Display apparatus, display method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus displays handwritten data that is input with an inputter. The display apparatus includes processing circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the processing circuitry to convert the handwritten data into a character string; and conceal the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that a first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-146434, filed on Aug. 31, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus, a display method, and a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display apparatus that displays handwritten data on a touch panel by input means such as a pen or a finger is known. A display apparatus equipped with a relatively large touch panel is placed in a conference room or the like, and is used by multiple users as an interactive whiteboard (IWB) or the like.

For such display apparatuses, a technique for managing confidential information with handwritten data is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a method for allowing a user to register handwritten data in advance and manages confidential information to be input by associating the confidential information with the handwritten data.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-002522

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus for displaying handwritten data that is input with an inputter, the display apparatus including processing circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the processing circuitry to convert the handwritten data into a character string; and conceal the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that a first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1D are diagrams illustrating methods for inputting confidential information according to comparative examples;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of input of confidential information according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example of a pen according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an example of an entire configuration of a display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a drawing for explaining the functions of the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a drawing for explaining the functions of the pen according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an example of defined control data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an example of dictionary data of a handwriting recognition dictionary unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating an example of dictionary data of a character string conversion dictionary unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating an example of dictionary data of a predictive conversion dictionary unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a drawing illustrating an example of operation command definition data retained by an operation command definition unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a drawing illustrating an example of system definition data retained by the operation command definition unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating an example of file list display data displayed on a display unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating an example of operation command definition data in a case where there is a selection object selected by a handwritten object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating an example of user-defined data retained by the operation command definition unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating an example of handwritten signature data retained by a handwritten signature data storage unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a drawing illustrating an example of handwritten input storage data stored in a handwritten input storage unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 17A is a drawing for explaining pen ID control data stored in a pen ID control data storage unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 17B is a drawing for explaining pen ID control data stored in the pen ID control data storage unit according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a drawing illustrating an example of color definition data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 19A is a drawing illustrating an example of data displayed with black-and-white highlighting using the color definition data of FIG. 18 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 19B is a drawing illustrating an example of data displayed according to a color display method according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating an example of pen color selection button definition data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 21A is a drawing illustrating an example of pen color selection buttons displayed on a display according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 21B is a drawing illustrating an example of pen color selection buttons displayed on a display according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 22A is a drawing illustrating an example of display in a handwritten input area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 22B is a drawing illustrating an example of display in the handwritten input area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a drawing illustrating an example of definition data of the handwritten input area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a drawing for explaining an example of configuration of the handwritten input area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a drawing indicating whether control of handwriting recognition, selectable candidate display, stroke display, dialog control, and a user interface operation are enabled or disabled for possible values that may be taken by Recognition according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mask display area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an example of definition data of a mask display area according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a drawing illustrating an example of an operation guide and selectable candidates displayed by the operation guide according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 29A is a drawing for explaining an example of specifying a selection object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 29B is a drawing for explaining an example of specifying a selection object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 29C is a drawing for explaining an example of specifying a selection object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 29D is a drawing for explaining an example of specifying a selection object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 30A is a drawing illustrating an example of display operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 30B is a drawing illustrating an example of display operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 31A is a drawing illustrating an example of display operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 31B is a drawing illustrating an example of display operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 32A is a drawing illustrating a method for inputting 90 degree angle information according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 32B is a drawing illustrating the method for inputting 90 degree angle information according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 32C is a drawing illustrating the method for inputting 90 degree angle information according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 33A is a drawing for explaining a registration method of handwritten signature data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 33B is a drawing for explaining the registration method of handwritten signature data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 33C is a drawing for explaining the registration method of handwritten signature data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a drawing illustrating an example of an operation guide displayed when a user handwrites “Suzuki” in Japanese which is handwritten signature data registered by the user according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 35A is a drawing for explaining a change method of user-defined data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 35B is a drawing for explaining the change method of user-defined data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIGS. 36A and 36B are an example of a plan view of a display apparatus positioned (placed) flat according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 37 is a drawing illustrating an example of a pen operation panel according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a drawing illustrating an example of a page operation panel according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a drawing illustrating an example of a page navigation operation panel according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a drawing (Part 1) illustrating an example of operation button definition data in an operation menu operated by a user on the lower side according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a drawing (Part 2) illustrating an example of operation button definition data in an operation menu operated by a user on the lower side according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a drawing (Part 1) illustrating an example of operation button definition data in an operation menu operated by a user on the upper side according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 43 is a drawing (Part 2) illustrating an example of operation button definition data in an operation menu operated by a user on the upper side according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 44 is a drawing illustrating an example of page navigation data according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 45 is a sequence diagram (Part 1) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a sequence diagram (Part 2) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram (Part 3) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 48 is a sequence diagram (Part 4) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 49 is a sequence diagram (Part 5) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 50 is a sequence diagram (Part 6) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 51 is a sequence diagram (Part 7) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 52 is a sequence diagram (Part 8) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 53 is a sequence diagram (Part 9) of an example of processing for displaying character string candidates and operation command candidates by the display apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 54 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a display apparatus controls displaying of data according to an area in which pen coordinates are included according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating a method in which a display apparatus controls displaying of data according to a mask display area in which pen coordinates are is included according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 56 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a flow of mask display and mask cancellation in a mask display area based on a mask display timer (1) and a mask display timer (2) according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 57 is a drawing illustrating another example of configuration of the display apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 58 is a drawing illustrating yet another example of configuration of the display apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention;

FIG. 59 is a drawing illustrating still yet another example of configuration of the display apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention; and

FIG. 60 is a drawing illustrating still yet another example of configuration of the display apparatus according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the conventional technology, there has been a problem that the conventional display apparatus cannot conceal the information displayed by handwritten input. For example, multiple users may share a display apparatus. In this case, if personal information, such as a name, is handwritten and displayed, it is likely that the personal information will be known to third parties. On the other hand, if personal information is not displayed at all, the viewing properties may be degraded and operations may be hampered. For example, information on incidents at a fire fighting site or information on patients at a disaster or an emergency medical site may be leaked by a third party.

A problem to be addressed by an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a display apparatus capable of concealing information that is displayed by handwritten input.

Hereinafter, as examples of an embodiment of the present invention, a display apparatus and a display method performed by the display apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 <Comparative Examples of Display Apparatus>

For the sake of convenience in explaining a display apparatus according to the present embodiment, first, comparative examples with respect to the display apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 1A to 1D are diagrams for explaining a liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102 or an anonymized database. FIG. 1A illustrates a Personal Computer (PC) 101 and the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102 attached to the PC 101. FIG. 1B illustrates the viewing angle of the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102. A privacy filter is a filter through which light can easily pass in a direction perpendicular to the display, but not in other directions, such that the filter appears dark from the other directions. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the viewing angle of the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102 is approximately 60 degrees.

In the case of the PC 101 for personal use, the user's eyes are in the perpendicular direction with respect to the PC 101, and from eyes other than those of the user, the screen of the PC 101 is darkened and is difficult to view. Therefore, peeping can be prevented. However, in the case of a device for group purposes that is used by multiple users at the same time, the viewing angle needs to be wider, and the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102 cannot be used.

FIG. 1C illustrates one record in an anonymized database. An e-mail address 103, a name 104, and a name in “kana” 105 (kana characters are Japanese phonetic syllabary characters as opposed to Chinese characters), which are pieces of personal information (hereinafter referred to as “confidential information”), are displayed in an anonymized manner. Thus, only the user having the authority of an administrator can cause the information before being anonymized, to be displayed. With the anonymized database, the confidential information can be protected without the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102. However, in the case of the anonymized database, only the user having the authority of an administrator can view the confidential information, and, therefore, the anonymized database cannot be used for group purposes.

FIG. 1D illustrates an example of users using a display apparatus 2 that is placed flatly. The display apparatus 2 has a large screen, and, therefore, multiple users can use the display apparatus 2 at the same time. If a display apparatus is installed in an open space, etc., without any partitions, instead of in a meeting room partitioned by walls, and the display apparatus displays confidential information on the screen, the confidential information may be viewed by a third party. However, because this is a case in which the display apparatus 2 is used for group purposes, the liquid crystal protection privacy filter 102 or the anonymized database cannot be used for preventing a third party from viewing the confidential information.

Further, in a general login screen, in which a user name and a password are displayed, the user has not been able to confirm the entire password because the password is mask displayed in units of each character input by the user by using the keyboard. Further, in a case where a user manually inputs a password, it has been difficult to mask each character at a time, because it is impossible to assume the extent of the handwritten characters that corresponds to one character unless the display apparatus converts the handwritten characters.

Thus, in the comparative example, in the case of group purposes, when the display apparatus displays confidential information, it has been difficult to achieve both protection and ease of use.

<Method of Inputting Confidential Information in Display Apparatus of the Present Embodiment>

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the display apparatus according to the present embodiment enables both protection of confidential information and ease of use. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of display of confidential information. The display apparatus 2 is partitioned into areas in advance, and the display mode of the handwritten input information can be controlled for each area.

As illustrated in FIG. 2(a), an area for inputting a name and an area for inputting the gender are provided. The name is highly confidential, whereas the gender is not as highly confidential. The user handwrites the name in an area 109 and handwrites the gender in an area 111. FIG. 2(b) illustrates the name and gender being handwritten (the name reads “Yamada” written in Japanese hiragana characters, and the gender reads “otoko” (male) written in Chinese (kanji) characters). For each of these items, character string candidates described below are displayed, and the user can select the character string candidates to be displayed in the areas 109 and 111. In FIG. 2(c), the name is displayed as “Yamada” (in Chinese (kanji) characters) and the gender is displayed as “otoko” (male) (in Chinese (kanji) characters).

The display apparatus 2 displays “Yamada” in the area 109 that is a predetermined area for a name, and when a certain period of time elapses thereafter, the display apparatus 2 switches the display of the corresponding character string to mask display. Thus, until a certain period of time elapses, the user can confirm (see) the input name, as illustrated in FIG. 2(d). However, after a certain period of time elapses, as illustrated in FIG. 2(e), in the area 109, the display of the name switches to mask display. Therefore, the display apparatus 2 can make the confidential information less visible to a third party.

Further, the character string in the area 111 for gender is not mask displayed even after a certain period of time elapses. This allows users to confirm the gender at any time.

As described above, the display apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment displays the entirety of the confidential information for a short period of time immediately after the display of the confidential information, so that the display apparatus 2 can be utilized for operations. Further, the confidential information is mask displayed after a certain period of time elapses, so the confidential information can be concealed from a third party.

Terminology

The input unit may be a unit with which handwriting can be performed by specifying coordinates of a point on the touch panel. For example, the input unit may be a pen, a finger or a hand of person, a rod-shaped member, or the like. A series of operations in which the user touches the input unit on the display, moves it continuously, and then moves it away from the display is referred to as a stroke. The stroke data is information displayed by the display on the basis of a trace of coordinates that are input by the input unit. The stroke data may be complemented as necessary. The data handwritten with the stroke is stroke data. In the handwritten data, a piece of information displayed on the display based on stroke data including one or more strokes is referred to as an object.

The character string is one or more character codes converted from handwritten data. Examples of characters include numbers, alphabetical letters, and symbols.

Confidential information is information that should not be known to unspecified persons. The confidential information may also be referred to as, personal information, confidential information, and the like. The confidential information is input to a predetermined area. However, information that is input by a user may be anything, and is not limited to the confidential information. In the present embodiment, information that is input to the predetermined area is the confidential information.

Concealing means to keep the information a secret and to hide the information. It is sufficient if the information is in a state that is not visibly legible by a user. At least a part of the information may be concealed, as long as it is difficult to identify the content of the information. In the present embodiment, concealing is described by the term mask display. Mask display means covering of information. For example, the mask display may be implemented by replacing at least a portion of information with characters such as “⋅”, “*”, and the like. Alternatively, the mask display may be implemented by erasing at least a portion of information (i.e., replacing with a space).

Black-and-white supporting apparatus: an apparatus that can only output white or black or gray scale data. Examples of black-and-white supporting apparatuses include an electronic paper, a monochrome printer, and the like. The black-and-white supporting apparatus may be an apparatus that does not support color.

Color supporting apparatus: a color supporting apparatus is an apparatus that can output color data as well as black and white data. An apparatus with liquid crystal or an organic EL display, a color printer, etc., are included. A color supporting apparatus is also a black-and-white supporting apparatus.

Black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus: a black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus is an apparatus that can output only white or black or gray scale data, but is an apparatus that performs black-and-white highlighting, with respect to the handwritten input originated data, based on color information associated with the handwritten data. A display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be listed as a black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus. It should be noted that the display apparatus is capable of receiving a handwritten input, and may be referred to as an input apparatus, or a handwritten input apparatus.

Handwritten input originated data refers to data entered through handwriting on a touch panel. The handwritten input originated data includes the data that remains as handwritten data after it is entered, and includes the data that is converted to text data. In addition, when data is obtained from an external apparatus, information indicating that the data is handwritten input originated data is not lost. The handwritten input originated data may include text data converted by character recognition, as well as data converted based on user operations such as stamps displayed as fixed characters or marks such as “completed” or “confidential”, shapes such as circles and stars, straight lines, and the like.

Data, which is not handwritten input originated data, refers to data other than those entered through handwriting on the touch panel. For example, it refers to image data, handwritten data or text data that is entered through an apparatus other than a black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus.

<Example of Appearance of Pen>

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an example of a perspective view of a pen 2500. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a multi-functional pen 2500. The pen 2500, which has a built-in power supply and can send instructions to a display apparatus 2, is called an active pen (a pen without a built-in power supply is called a passive pen). The pen 2500 of FIG. 3 has one physical switch on the tip of the pen, one physical switch on the bottom of the pen, and two physical switches on the side of the pen. The switch on the tip of the pen is for writing, the switch on the bottom of the pen is for erasing, and the switches on the side of the pen are for assigning user functions. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pen 2500 further includes a non-volatile memory that stores a pen ID that is unique to the other pens.

The operation procedure of the display apparatus 2 by the user can be reduced by using a pen with a switch. The pen with a switch mainly refers to an active pen. However, a passive pen with electromagnetic induction, which does not have a built-in power supply but generates power using LC circuit, may also be included as the pen with a switch. An optical pen with a switch, an infrared pen with a switch, and a capacitance pen with a switch, are active pens.

It should be noted that it is assumed that the hardware configuration of the pen 2500 is the same as that of a general control method including a communication function and a microcomputer. The pen 2500 may be an electromagnetic induction type, an active electrostatic coupling type, or the like. In addition, the pen 2500 may have functions such as pen pressure detection, tilt detection, and hover function (indicating the cursor before the pen touches a touch panel).

<Overall Configuration of Apparatus>

An overall configuration of the display apparatus 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating an overall configuration diagram of a display apparatus 2. FIG. 4(a) illustrates a display apparatus 2 used as a horizontal electronic blackboard suspended on a wall as an example of a display apparatus 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 4(a), a display 220 as an example of a display is provided on top of the display apparatus 2. A user U can handwrite (also referred to as input or draw) a character, or the like, on the display 220 using the pen 2500.

FIG. 4(b) illustrates a display apparatus 2 used as a horizontal electronic blackboard suspended on a wall.

FIG. 4(c) illustrates a display apparatus 2 positioned (placed) flat on a table 230. Because the thickness of the display apparatus 2 is about 1 cm, it is not necessary to adjust the height of the desk even if it is placed flat on an ordinary desk. Also, the user can easily move the display apparatus 2.

It should be noted that the tilt sensor automatically detects the position in which the display apparatus 2 is used.

<Hardware Configuration of Apparatus>

Next, the hardware configuration of the display apparatus 2 is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 5. The display apparatus 2 has a configuration of an information processing apparatus or a computer as illustrated in the figure. FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a display apparatus 2. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display apparatus 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 202, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 203, and an SSD (Solid State Drive) 204.

The CPU 201 controls overall operations of the display apparatus 2. The ROM 202 stores programs used to drive the CPU 201, such as the CPU 201 and the IPL (Initial Program Loader). The RAM 203 is used as a work area of the CPU 201. The SSD 204 stores various data items such as a program for the display apparatus 2. The program may be an application program that runs on an information processing device equipped with a general-purpose operating system such as Windows (registered trademark), Mac OS (registered trademark), Android (registered trademark), iOS (registered trademark), and the like. That is, the display apparatus 2 may be an information processing device.

Further, the display apparatus 2 includes a display controller 213, a touch sensor controller 215, a touch sensor 216, a display 220, a power switch 227, a tilt sensor 217, a serial interface 218, a speaker 219, a microphone 221, a wireless communication apparatus 222, an infrared interface 223, a power control circuit 224, an AC adapter 225, and a battery 226.

The display controller 213 controls and manages the screen display to output an output image to the display 220, and the like. The touch sensor 216 detects that a pen 2500, a hand of a user, or the like (the pen or the hand of a user serves as an input unit) is in contact with the display 220. Further, the touch sensor 216 receives a pen ID.

The touch sensor controller 215 controls the processing of the touch sensor 216. The touch sensor 216 inputs and detects coordinates. An example of a method for inputting and detecting the coordinates is hereinafter explained. For example, optically, two light emitting and receiving apparatuses, which are located at both ends on an upper side of the display 220, emit a plurality of infrared rays in parallel to the display 220. A reflective member disposed around the display 220 reflects the plurality of infrared rays and the light receiving element receives light that is returned on the same optical path as the emitted light.

The touch sensor 216 outputs position information of the infrared rays emitted by the two light emitting and receiving apparatuses blocked by an object to the touch sensor controller 215, and the touch sensor controller 215 identifies a coordinate position that is a contact position of the object. Further, the touch sensor controller 215 includes a communication unit 215 a, and is capable of communicating with the pen 2500 via radio (wirelessly). For example, a commercial pen may be used when communicating in a standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). When one or more pens 2500 are registered in the communication unit 215 a in advance, the user can communicate without performing the connection setting that causes the pen 2500 to communicate with the display apparatus 2.

The power switch 227 is a switch for switching ON/OFF of the power of the display apparatus 2. The tilt sensor 217 is a sensor that detects a tilt angle of the display apparatus 2. The tilt sensor 217 is mainly used to detect whether the display apparatus 2 is used in which installation state of FIG. 4(a), FIG. 4(b), and FIG. 4(c), and thus, the thickness of characters, etc., can be automatically changed depending on the installation state.

The serial interface 218 is a communication interface with external apparatuses, such as a USB interface, a LAN interface, or the like. The serial interface 218 is used, for example, to input information from an external source. The speaker 219 is used for audio output, and the microphone 221 is used for audio input. The wireless communication apparatus 222 communicates with a terminal carried by a user and relays, for example, a connection to the Internet. The wireless communication apparatus 222 communicates via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like, but the communication standard may be any standard. The wireless communication apparatus 222 forms an access point. The terminal carried by the user can be connected to the access point when the user sets the SSID (Service Set Identifier) and password, which are obtained by the user, to the terminal.

It should be noted that it is preferable that the wireless communication apparatus 222 is provided with two access points.

(a) access point->Internet (b) access point->internal network->Internet The access point (a) is for external users, and the external users cannot access the internal network but can use the Internet. The access point (b) is for internal users, and the internal users can use the internal network the Internet.

The infrared interface 223 detects an adjacent display apparatus 2. The infrared interface 223 is capable of detecting only the adjacent display apparatus 2 by taking advantage of the straightness of the infrared rays. Preferably, the infrared interface 223 is provided on each side of the display apparatus 2, and it is possible to detect in which direction of the display apparatus 2 the other display apparatus 2 is located. The adjacent display apparatus 2 can display handwritten information that has been handwritten in the past (handwritten information on another page, assuming that the size of the display 220 corresponds to one page).

The power control circuit 224 controls the AC adapter 225 and the battery 226 that are power sources for the display apparatus 2. The AC adapter 225 converts the alternating current shared by the commercial power supply to DC.

In the case where the display 220 is what is termed as electronic paper, the display 220 consumes little or no power to maintain the image after it has been rendered, and thus, the display 220 can be driven by the battery 226. As a result, it is possible to use the display apparatus 2 for an application such as a digital signage even in a place where it is difficult to connect a power source, such as in an outdoor place.

Further, the display apparatus 2 includes a bus line 210. The bus line 210 is an address bus, a data bus, or the like for electrically connecting components such as the CPU 201 illustrated in FIG. 5.

It should be noted that the touch sensor 216 may be not limited to an optical type, but may be a touch panel having an electrostatic capacitance method in which a contact position is identified by detecting a change in capacitance. The touch sensor 216 may be a resistive film type touch panel that identifies a contact position by a voltage change of two resistive films facing each other. The touch sensor 216 may use a variety of detection means, such as an electromagnetic induction type touch panel that detects an electromagnetic induction caused by the contact of a contact object to the display unit, and that identifies a contact position.

The touch sensor 216 may be of a method that does not require an electronic pen to detect the presence or absence of a touch by the tip of the pen. In this case, a fingertip or a pen-shaped bar can be used for touch operations. It should be noted that it is not required that the pen 2500 is a thin and long pen.

<Function of Apparatus>

Next, functions of the display apparatus 2 and the pen 2500 is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. FIG. 6A is an example of a functional block diagram illustrating functions of the display apparatus 2 in a block shape. The display apparatus 2 includes a handwritten input unit 21, a display unit 22, a handwritten input display control unit 23, a candidate display timer control unit 24, a handwritten input storage unit 25, a handwriting recognition control unit 26, a handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27, a character string conversion control unit 28, a character string conversion dictionary unit 29, a predictive conversion control unit 30, a predictive conversion dictionary unit 31, an operation command recognition control unit 32, an operation command definition unit 33, a pen ID control data storage unit 36, a file transmission-and-reception control unit 37, a handwritten signature authentication control unit 38, a handwritten signature data storage unit 39, and a mask display timer control unit 40. Each function of the display apparatus 2 is a function or means implemented in which one of the components illustrated in FIG. 5 is operated by instructions from the CPU 201 according to a program read from the SSD 204 to the RAM 203.

The handwritten input unit 21 is implemented by a touch sensor 216 or the like and receives handwritten input from a user and receives a pen ID from the pen 2500. The handwritten input unit 21 converts a pen input d1 of the user into pen operation data d2 (pen-up, pen-down, or pen-coordinate data) with the pen ID, and transmits the converted data to the handwritten input display control unit 23. The pen coordinate data is transmitted periodically as discrete values, and coordinates between discrete values are calculated by complementary calculation.

The display unit 22 is implemented by a display 220 or the like to display a handwritten object, an operation menu, and the like. The display unit 22 converts drawing data d3, which is written in the video memory by the handwritten input display control unit 23, into data corresponding to the characteristics of the display 220 and transmits the converted data to the display 220.

The handwritten input display control unit 23 performs overall control of handwritten input and display. The handwritten input display control unit 23 processes pen operation data d2 from the handwritten input unit 21 and displays the processed data by transmitting it to the display unit 22. The processing of the pen operation data d2 and the display of strokes is hereinafter explained in detail with reference to FIG. 45 to FIG. 53 below. The handwritten input display control unit 23 retains operation button definition data, detects an operated operation menu (button) based on the pen operation data d2 from the handwritten input unit 21, and performs control according to the operation menu.

The candidate display timer control unit 24 is a display control timer of selectable candidates. The candidate display timer control unit 24 generates a timing for starting or stopping the timer to start the display of the selectable candidates and to erase the display. The selectable candidates are handwriting recognition character string/language-wise character string candidates, converted character string candidates, character string/predictive conversion candidates, and operation command candidates, which are selectably displayed in an operation guide (see FIG. 28) that is hereinafter explained later. The candidate display timer control unit 24 receives a timer start request d4 (or a timer stop request) from the handwritten input display control unit 23 and transmits a timeout event d5 to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

The handwritten input storage unit 25 has a storage function for storing user data (handwritten object/character string object). The handwritten input storage unit 25 receives and retains user data d6-1 from the handwritten input display control unit 23. The handwritten input storage unit 25 receives an acquisition request d6-2 from the handwritten input display control unit 23 and transmits the user data d7 stored in the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the position information d36 of the determined object (the character string object that has already been recognized or the handwritten object that has been determined not to be converted) to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

The handwriting recognition control unit 26 is a recognition engine for performing on-line handwriting recognition. Unlike a typical OCR (Optical Character Reader), in parallel with pen operations by the user, characters (not only in Japanese but also in English and in other languages), numbers, symbols (%, $, &, etc.), and graphics (lines, circles, triangles, etc.) are recognized. Various algorithms have been devised for recognizing methods, but in an embodiment of the present disclosure, details are omitted as well known techniques are available.

The handwriting recognition control unit 26 receives pen operation data d8-1 from the handwritten input display control unit 23 and performs handwriting recognition to retain handwriting recognition character string candidates. Further, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 retains language-wise character string candidates converted from handwriting recognition character string candidates d12 using the handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27. Separately, when an acquisition request d8-2 is received from the handwritten input display control unit 23, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the retained handwriting recognition character string candidates and the language-wise character string candidates d9 to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

The handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27 is dictionary data for the language conversion of the handwriting recognition. The handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27 receives handwriting recognition character string candidates d12 from the handwriting recognition control unit 26, converts the handwriting recognition character string candidates into language character string candidates d13 that are linguistically appropriate, and transmits the converted candidates to the handwriting recognition control unit 26. For example, in the case of Japanese, a “hiragana” character is converted into a “kanji” character or a “katakana” character (hiragana characters and katakana characters are types of Japanese phonetic syllabary characters (often comprehensively referred to as “kana” characters), and kanji characters are a type of Chinese characters used in the Japanese language).

The character string conversion control unit 28 controls the conversion of the converted character string candidates into character strings. The converted character strings are character strings that are likely to be generated including handwriting recognition character strings or language-wise character strings. The character string conversion control unit 28 receives the handwriting recognition character strings and the language-wise character string candidates d11 from the handwriting recognition control unit 26, converts them into converted character string candidates using the character string conversion dictionary unit 29, and retains the converted candidates. Separately, when the character string conversion control unit 28 receives the acquisition request d14 from the handwritten input display control unit 23, the retained converted character string candidate d15 is transmitted to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

The character string conversion dictionary unit 29 is dictionary data for character string conversion. The character string conversion dictionary unit 29 receives the handwriting recognition character strings and the language-wise character string candidates d17 from the character string conversion control unit 28 and transmits the converted character string candidates d18 to the character string conversion control unit 28.

The predictive conversion control unit 30 receives the handwriting recognition character strings and the language-wise character string candidates d10 from the handwriting recognition control unit 26, and receives the converted character string candidates d16 from the character string conversion control unit 28. The predictive conversion control unit 30 converts each of the handwriting recognition character strings, the language-wise character string candidates, and the converted character string candidates into predictive character string candidates using the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31. The predictive converted character strings are character strings that are likely to be generated including the handwriting recognition character strings, the language-wise character strings or converted character strings. When the predictive conversion control unit 30 receives the acquisition request d19 from the handwritten input display control unit 23 separately, the predictive character string candidate d20 is transmitted to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

The predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 is dictionary data for the predictive conversion. The predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 receives the handwriting recognition character strings, the language-wise character string candidate, and the converted character string candidates d21 from the predictive conversion control unit 30 and transmits the predictive character string candidates d22 to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

The operation command recognition control unit 32 receives the handwriting recognition character strings and the language-wise character string candidates d30 from the handwriting recognition control unit 26 and receives the converted character string candidates d28 from the character string conversion control unit 28. The operation command recognition control unit 32 receives the predictive character string candidates d29 from the predictive conversion control unit 30. Further, the operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits an operation command conversion request d26 to the operation command definition unit 33 for each of the handwriting recognition character strings, the language-wise character string candidates, the converted character string candidate, and the predictive character string candidates d29, and receives operation command candidates d27 from the operation command definition unit 33. The operation command recognition control unit 32 retains the operation command candidates d27.

When the operation command conversion request d26 is partially matched with operation command definitions, the operation command definition unit 33 transmits the operation command candidates d27 to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

The operation command recognition control unit 32 receives pen operation data d24-1 from the handwritten input display control unit 23. The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the position information acquisition request d23 of the determined object that has been input and determined in the past to the handwritten input storage unit 25 and retains the determined object specified by the pen operation data as a selected object (including position information). The operation command recognition control unit 32 identifies: a position of the pen operation data d24-1; and a selected object that satisfies a predetermined criteria. Separately, when the acquisition request d24-2 is received from the handwritten input display control unit 23, the operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the retained operation command candidate and the identified selected object d25 to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

The pen ID control data storage unit 36 retains the pen ID control data (may be referred to as a storage unit). Before the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the display data to the display unit 22, the pen ID control data storage unit 36 transmits the pen ID control data d41 to the handwritten input display control unit 23. The handwritten input display control unit 23 draws display data under the operating conditions stored in association with the pen ID. Further, before the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs the handwriting recognition, the pen ID control data storage unit 36 transmits angle information d44 of the pen ID control data to the handwriting recognition control unit 26, and the handwriting recognition control unit 26 rotates the stroke with the angle information stored in association with the pen ID to perform the handwriting recognition.

Further, after recognizing a straight line for setting the angle information that is used when the user handwrites a character or the like, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the angle information d43 of the pen ID control data to the pen ID control data storage unit 36. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 stores the angle information d43 corresponding to the pen ID. Further, after the operation command for setting the angle information is executed by the handwritten input display control unit 23, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the pen ID control data d42 to the pen ID control data storage unit 36. The handwritten input display control unit 23 stores the execution result (the angle information set by the user) of the operation command corresponding to the pen ID. Thereafter, the stroke of the pen ID is rotated with the set angle information, and handwriting recognition is performed.

Further, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits stroke data d49, which is rotated clockwise with the angle information of the pen ID control data, to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. According to the above, it becomes possible to perform authentication of handwritten signature regardless of the user's operation position (from which direction the signature is handwritten with reference to the display apparatus 2).

The handwritten signature data storage unit 39 retains handwritten signature data. When the handwritten signature data storage unit 39 receives a handwritten signature data acquisition request d45 from the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38, the handwritten signature data storage unit 39 transmits the handwritten signature data d46 to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. It is assumed that the format of the handwritten signature data depends on the algorithm for handwritten signature authentication of the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. Data of the handwritten signature data storage unit 39 is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 15.

In response to receiving stroke data d49, which is rotated clockwise, from the handwriting recognition control unit 26, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 transmits a handwritten signature data acquisition request d45 to the handwritten signature data storage unit 39. The handwritten signature data storage unit 39 transmits the handwritten signature data d46 to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38.

The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 authenticates the user based on the handwritten signature data. Various algorithms have been devised for user authentication based on handwritten signature data, but in an embodiment of the present disclosure, techniques, which can achieve a recognition rate that does not hinder practical use, are used. For example, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 generates a feature vector including coordinates constituting the handwritten signature data, writing pressure, time for writing strokes, and the like. The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 compares a feature vector of the registered handwritten signature data with a feature vector of a user name or the like handwritten by a user at signin, with appropriate weighting of the elements. When the matching degree is equal to or more than the threshold value, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 determines that the authentication is successful, and when the matching degree is less than the threshold value, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 determines that the authentication is failed.

The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 retains the authentication result of the handwritten signature which is the comparison result of the stroke data d49 and the handwritten signature data d46. Separately, when the acquisition request d48 is received from the handwritten input display control unit 23, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 transmits the retained authentication result d47 of the handwritten signature to the handwritten input display control unit 23. The authentication result of the handwritten signature includes: whether or not the stroke data d49 and the handwritten signature data d46 are considered to be matched; and if they appear to be matched, a SignatureId described later, which is associated with the matched handwritten signature data d46.

When the result of the handwriting recognition of the handwriting recognition control unit 26 conforms to the operation command indicating the execution of the handwritten signature registration, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 acquires the data d52 input to the handwritten signature registration form (a frame in which the handwritten signature data is input, as described below) from the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwritten signature data d50 among the data d52 to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 transmits the received handwritten signature data d50 to the handwritten signature data storage unit 39 to register.

When the handwriting recognition result of the handwriting recognition control unit 26 is an instruction to cancel the handwritten signature, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits a deletion request d51 of the handwritten signature registration form to the handwritten input storage unit 25 and deletes the handwritten signature registration form from the handwritten input storage unit 25.

When the handwriting recognition result of the handwriting recognition control unit 26 is an instruction to execute the user-defined data change, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 acquires the data d53, which is input to the user-defined data change form, from the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits a change value d54 of the data d53 to the operation command definition unit 33 to change the user-defined data. The user-defined data is hereinafter explained in FIG. 14.

When the handwriting recognition result of the handwriting recognition control unit 26 is an instruction to cancel the user-defined data change form or execution of registration thereof, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits a deletion request d55 of the user-defined data change form to the handwritten input storage unit 25 and deletes the user-defined data change form from the handwritten input storage unit 25.

The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 stores in a storage medium and acquires: handwritten input originated data; or data that is not the handwritten input originated data, and communicates with external apparatuses (print request, display request, etc.). The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 receives an execution request d64 for transmitting and receiving a file, from the handwritten input display control unit 23. At the time of storing or printing of a file, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a file transmission request to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37, and the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 transmits an acquisition request of the handwritten input storage data d61 to the handwritten input storage unit 25.

-   -   In the case where the data is not handwriting-originated data,         the handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the color         information retained by the data as it is.     -   In the case where the data is handwriting-originated data, the         handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the handwritten         input storage data d62, which is converted to color data, to the         file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 when the         transmission destination is a color supporting apparatus (for         example, a color printer).     -   In the case where the data is handwriting-originated data, the         handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the handwritten         input storage data d62, which is converted to black-and-white         data, to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37         when the transmission destination is a black-and-white         supporting apparatus (for example, a monochrome printer). In         some cases, the black-and-white supporting apparatus is capable         of converting color data into gray-scale data, and thus, the         data may be converted to color data to be transmitted.     -   In the case where the transmission destination is a         black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus, the         handwritten input storage data, which is hereinafter explained         later, is transmitted to the file transmission-and-reception         control unit 37.     -   Further, in the case where the handwritten input storage unit 25         stores the handwriting-originated data in a file, the         handwritten input storage unit 25 converts the handwritten input         storage data d62 to color data according to the file format and         attaches the handwritten input storage data as meta-data of the         file. When storing data that is not handwriting-originated data         in a file, the handwritten input storage data d62 is converted         to color data according to the file format.

Information indicating the color supporting apparatus or the black-and-white supporting apparatus is stored in, for example, a MIB (Management Information Base) retained by a network apparatus, and the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 can perform determination by acquiring the MIB. Similarly, it is possible to determine whether the apparatus is a black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus based on the model name disclosed by the MIB.

At the time of reading the file, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the file list acquisition request d65 to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37. The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 transmits the file list acquisition request to the external device, acquires the file list d63, and transmits the file list to the handwritten input display control unit 23. The handwritten input display control unit 23 displays a file list on the display unit 22, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits a display position of a selected file to the handwritten input display control unit 23, and the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a file reception request d66 to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37. The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 acquires a file from an external apparatus and transmits the file d67 to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 analyzes meta-data of the file to determine whether or not the data is handwriting-originated data. If the data is handwriting-originated data, the handwritten input storage unit 25 retrieves the handwritten input storage data (black-and-white highlighting/color convertible data, which is hereinafter explained below). The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 converts the handwritten input originated data into a black-and-white highlighting display and transmits the data to the handwritten input display control unit 23, and transmits data to the handwritten input display control unit 23 without converting the data when the data is not handwritten input originated data (which is displayed in gray scale). The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the display data of a handwritten object to the display unit 22.

The mask display timer control unit 40 controls the mask display timer of the mask display area based on the definition data of the mask display area (see FIG. 7). The mask display timer is managed for each divided mask display area. Hereinafter, an operation of one mask display area will be described as an example. When the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits character string object display data, obtained by recognizing handwriting, to the display unit 22, a mask display timer (1) defined by the definition data of FIG. 7 is transmitted to the mask display timer control unit 40 (d71). The mask display timer control unit 40 starts the mask display timer. When the handwritten input unit 21 detects a pen-down to the mask display area, the mask display timer control unit 40 restarts the mask display timer. This extends the mask display timer while information is being input to the mask display area. When the mask display timer becomes timeout (expires), the mask display timer control unit 40 transmits the timeout to the handwritten input display control unit 23 (d72). The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits character string object erasure and the mask display data of the character string object, to the display unit 22. The display unit 22 switches the display of the character string object to mask display (a mask is applied to the confidential information to hide the display). When the handwritten input unit 21 detects a pen event in the mask display area during the mask display, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a gesture recognition request (a tap, a double tap, or the like) to the handwriting recognition control unit 26. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the gesture recognition result to the handwritten input display control unit 23. When the gesture recognition result received from the handwriting recognition control unit 26 is a mask display cancellation gesture, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits mask display data erasure for the character string object, and the character string object display data, to the display unit 22. The display unit 22 displays the character string object (displays the confidential information) and transmits a mask display timer (2) defined in the definition data of FIG. 7 to the mask display timer control unit 40. The mask display timer control unit 40 starts the mask display timer.

Note that this gesture is handwritten data for determining whether a user has made an input to redisplay the confidential information. The content of the determination differs from the gesture by which the display apparatus 2, which will be described later, recognizes angle information from a straight line.

FIG. 6B is a functional block diagram illustrating a function of the pen 2500 in a block shape. The pen 2500 includes a pen event transmission unit 41. The pen event transmission unit 41 transmits event data items of pen-up, pen-down, and pen-coordinate, with a pen-ID, to the display apparatus 2.

<Defined Control Data>

Next, defined control data used for various processes of the display apparatus 2 is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the defined control data. The defined control data in FIG. 7 shows the control data for each control item.

The character string candidate display timer 401 defines the time until the selectable candidates are displayed. This is because the display apparatus 2 does not display the selectable candidate during handwriting. In FIG. 7, it is meant that the selectable candidates are displayed if a pen-down event does not occur within a TimerValue of 500 ms from a pen-up event. The character string candidate display timer 401 is retained by the candidate display timer control unit 24. The character string candidate display timer 401 is used at the start of the selectable candidate display timer in step S18-2 of FIG. 47 below.

The character string candidate erase timer 402 defines the time until the displayed selectable candidates are erased. This is used for erasing the selectable candidates in the case where the user does not select the selectable candidates. In FIG. 7, it is meant that the selectable candidate display data is deleted if the selectable candidates are not selected within a TimerValue of 5000 ms from the display of the selectable candidates. The character string candidate erase timer 402 is retained by the candidate display timer control unit 24. The character string candidate erase timer 402 is used at the start of the selectable candidate erase timer in step S64 of FIG. 49.

A handwritten object rectangular area 403 defines a rectangular area considered to be near the handwritten object. In an example of FIG. 7, the handwritten object rectangular area 403 is a rectangular area in which the rectangular area of the handwritten object is expanded horizontally by 50% of the estimated character size, and is expanded vertically by 80% of the estimated character size. In an example illustrated in FIG. 7, ratios with respect to the estimated character size are defined (in %). However, if the unit of “mm”, or the like, is used, fixed lengths may be defined. The handwritten object rectangular area 403 is retained by the handwritten input storage unit 25. The font data 405 is used in step S10 of FIG. 46 to determine the overlap status of the rectangular area near the handwritten object and the stroke rectangular area.

An estimated writing character direction-and-character size determination condition 404 defines constants for determining a character-writing direction and a character size measurement direction. In an example of FIG. 7, in a case:

-   -   where the difference between the time when the first stroke is         added in the handwritten object rectangular area and the time         when the last stroke is added is equal to or greater than         MinTime=1000 [ms];     -   where the difference between the horizontal distance (width) and         vertical distance (height) of the handwritten object rectangular         area is equal to or greater than MinDiff=10 [mm]; and     -   where the horizontal distance is greater than the vertical         distance, the estimated character-writing direction is         determined to be “horizontal writing” and the estimated         character size is determined to be vertical distance. Where the         horizontal distance is shorter than the vertical distance, the         estimated character-writing direction is determined to be         “vertical writing” and the estimated character size is         determined to be the horizontal distance. In a case where the         above-described condition is not met, the estimated         character-writing direction is determined to be “horizontal         writing” (DefaultDir=“Horizontal”) and the estimated character         size is determined to be the horizontal distance or the vertical         distance, whichever is larger. The estimated writing character         direction-and-character size determination condition 404 is         retained by the handwritten input storage unit 25. The estimated         writing character direction-and-character size determination         condition 404 is used in the estimated character-writing         direction acquisition in step S59 of FIG. 49 and in the         character string object font acquisition in step S81 of FIG. 51.

Font data 405 defines data for estimating a size of a character and the like. In an example of FIG. 7, it is illustrated that the estimated character size determined by the estimated writing character direction-and-character size determination condition 404 is compared to a small-size character 405 a (hereinafter referred to as a minimum font size) and a large-size character 405 c (hereinafter referred to as a maximum font size) of the font data 405. In a case where the estimated character size is smaller than the minimum font size, the estimated character size is determined to be the minimum font size. In a case where the estimated character size is larger than the maximum font size, the estimated character size is determined to be the maximum font size. Otherwise, the estimated character size is determined to be a character size of a medium-size character 405 b. The font data 405 is retained by the handwritten input storage unit 25. The font data 405 is used in the character string object font acquisition in step S81 of FIG. 51.

Specifically, the handwritten input storage unit 25 adopts a font of a closest font size from among Fontsizes in the font data 405 by comparing the estimated character size determined by the estimated writing character direction-and-character size determination condition 404 with Fontsizes of in font data 405. For example, when the estimated character size is equal to or less than 25 [mm] (FontSize of the small-size character), the handwritten input storage unit 25 determines that the character is a “small-size character”. When the estimated character size is greater than 25 mm, and equal to or less than 50 mm (FontSize of the medium-size character), the handwritten input storage unit 25 determines that the character is a “medium-size character”. When the estimated character size exceeds 100 mm (FontSize of the large-size character), the handwritten input storage unit 25 determines that the character is a “large-size character”. The Mincho typeface 25 mm font is used for “small-size character” 405 a (FontStyle=“Mincho” FontSize=“25 mm”), Mincho typeface 50 mm font is used for “medium-size character” 405 b (FontStyle=“Mincho” FontSize=“50 mm”), and Gothic typeface 100 mm font is used for “large-size character”405 c (FontStyle=“Gothic” FontSize=“100 mm”). In response to the need to increase the sizes or types of font, the provider of the display apparatus may increase the types of font data 405.

An extended line determination condition 406 defines the data used to determine whether multiple objects have been selected. A handwritten object is a single stroke. In an example of FIG. 7, in a case:

-   -   where the length of the longer side of the handwritten object is         greater than or equal to 100 mm (MinLenLongSide=“100 mm”);     -   where the length of the shorter side is 50 [mm] or less         (MaxLenShortSide=“50 mm”); and     -   where the overlap rate between the longer side and shorter side         of the handwritten object is equal to or greater than 80%         (MinOverLapRate=“80%),         it is determined that multiple objects are selected (selected         objects). The extended line determination condition 406 is         retained by the operation command recognition control unit 32.         The extended line determination condition 406 is used in the         determination of the selected object in step S50 of FIG. 48.

An enclosing line determination condition 407 defines the data used to determine whether an object is an enclosing line. In an example of FIG. 7, the operation command recognition control unit 32 determines, as a selected object, a determined object whose overlap rates with the handwritten object in the long side direction and the short side direction are equal to or greater than 100% (MinOverLapRate=“100%”). The enclosing line determination condition 407 is retained by the operation command recognition control unit 32. The enclosing line determination condition 407 is used in the enclosing line determination of the determination of the selected object in step S50 of FIG. 48.

It should be noted that any one of the determination using the extended line determination condition 406 and the determination using the enclosing line determination condition 407 may be performed with priority. For example, when the extended line determination condition 406 is relaxed (when it is made easier to select the extended line) and the enclosing line determination condition 407 is strictly made (when condition values are set in such a way that only enclosing lines can be selected), the operation command recognition control unit 32 may give priority to the determination using the enclosing line determination condition 407.

A mask display timer (1) 408 is a timer from when the display unit 22 displays a character string object to when the display is switched to mask display. The mask display timer (1) 408 is used at the start of the mask display timer in step S83 of FIG. 52. The mask display timer (1) 408 indicates that the display is to be switched to mask display if there is no pen-down to the mask display area for 5 seconds (TimerValueForMaskedDisplay 1=“5 sec”) (an example of a first time). The mask display timer (1) 408 starts immediately after the character string object is input for the first time. In this example, the time until the mask display timer (1) 408 starts is set to be a relatively short time, assuming the input time until the input of information (for example, with respect to one area) related to the character string object is completed.

A mask display timer (2) 409 is a timer until the display unit 22 switches the display to mask display again after the mask display had been canceled. The mask display timer (2) 409 is used at the start of the mask display timer in step S94 of FIG. 52. The mask display timer (2) 409 indicates that the display is to be switched to mask display when there is no pen-down to the mask display area for 30 seconds (TimerValueForMaskedDisplay 2=“30 seconds”) after the mask display is cancelled (an example of a second time). The mask display timer (2) 409 starts immediately after the character string object is redisplayed after the display is switched to mask display one or more times after the character string object had been input for the first time. The time until the mask display timer (2) 409 starts is set to be a relatively long time, assuming the time until the user finishes the comparison or verification with respect to different information from the relevant character string object. Thus, Timer Value ForMaskedDisplay 1, and Timer ValueForMaskedDisplay 2, are different.

The mask display timer (1) 408 and the mask display timer (2) 409 can be arbitrarily set by the user from a setting screen or the like displayed by the display apparatus 2. For example, the setting may be the mask display timer (1) 408 >the mask display timer (2) 409, or the setting may be that the mask display timer (1) 408 or the mask display timer (2) 409 is invalid (infinite).

A mask display cancellation gesture 410 defines a gesture by which the user cancels the mask display. The mask display cancellation gesture 410 is used to determine the gesture recognition result returned in response to the gesture recognition request in steps S90 and S91 of FIG. 52. The mask release gesture 410 cancels the mask display by tapping (GestureForCancelMaskedDisplay=“Tap”), i.e., a user tapping (by an operation of pressing and releasing immediately with a pen) a position within the mask display area that is mask displayed. The method of determining the gesture can be the same as the method of character recognition, such that the recognition result is “,”=tap (comma)” and the recognition result is “(a Japanese voiced sound symbol) “=double tap (voiced sound symbol)”. That is, when predetermined handwritten data is input with an input means, the handwritten input display control unit 23 displays the concealed character string again.

If the user's tap causes a malfunction, the user can change the gesture to a more complicated gesture. For example, the user's predetermined handwriting will display an operation command in the operation guide 500 and the user will select a command to change the gesture. Then, a gesture input field is displayed to allow the user to register a desired gesture.

<Example of Dictionary Data>

Dictionary data is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. FIG. 8 is an example of dictionary data of the handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27. FIG. 9 is an example of dictionary data of the character string conversion dictionary unit 29. FIG. 10 is an example of dictionary data of the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31. It should be noted that each of these dictionary data items is used in steps S33 to S41 of FIG. 48.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a conversion result of the dictionary data of the handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27 of FIG. 8 is called language-wise character string candidates, a conversion result of the dictionary data of the character string conversion dictionary unit 29 of FIG. 9 is called converted character string candidates, and a conversion result of the dictionary data of the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 of FIG. 10 is called predictive character string candidates. “Before conversion” of each dictionary data indicates the character string to be searched for in the dictionary data, “after conversion” indicates the character string after conversion corresponding to the character string to be searched for, and “probability” indicates the probability with which the converted character string is selected by the user. The probability is calculated from the result of the user selecting each character string in the past. Therefore, the probability may be calculated for each user. Various algorithms have been devised to calculate the probability, but the probability may be calculated in an appropriate way, and the details are omitted. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, character string candidates are displayed in the descending order of the selection probability according to the estimated writing character direction.

In the dictionary data illustrated in the handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27 of FIG. 8, the handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” is converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “gi” (that is a character having a meaning of conference) with a probability of 0.55 (as indicated in the first line in the table in FIG. 8) and converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “gi” (that is a character having a meaning of technology) with a probability of 0.45 (as indicated in the second line in the table in FIG. 8). The handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “gishi” is converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “gishi” (meaning a professional engineer) with a probability of 0.55 (as indicated in the third line in the table in FIG. 8) and converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “gishi” (meaning an engineer in general) with a probability of 0.45 (as indicated in the fourth line in the table in FIG. 8). The same applies to other character strings of “before conversion”. The handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (meaning quasi) with a probability of 0.30 (as indicated in the fifth line in the table in FIG. 8). The handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (meaning proceedings) with a probability of 0.25 (as indicated in the sixth line in the table in FIG. 8). The handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (meaning pseudo) with a probability of 0.20 (as indicated in the seventh line in the table in FIG. 8). The handwritten Japanese Hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese katakana character reading “giji” with a probability of 0.15 (as indicated in the eighth line in the table in FIG. 8). In FIG. 8, the character strings of “before conversion” are handwritten “hiragana” characters. However, it is permissible to register a string other than “hiragana” characters as “before conversion”.

In the dictionary data of the character string conversion dictionary unit 29 of FIG. 9, the character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “gi” (that is a character having a meaning of conference) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) with a probability of 0.95 (as indicated in the first line in the table in FIG. 9), and the character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “gi” (that is a character having a meaning of technology) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “giryoshi” (meaning “technical mass production trial”) with a probability of 0.85 (as indicated in the second line in the table in FIG. 9). The same applies to other character strings of “before conversion”. The character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “gishi” (that is a character having a meaning of professional engineer) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gishikai” (meaning “engineer association”) with a probability of 0.65 (as indicated in the third line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “gishi” (that is a character having a meaning of an engineer in general) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gishicho” (meaning “leader of engineers”) with a probability of 0.75 (as indicated in the fourth line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) with a probability of 0.95 (as indicated in the fifth line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijutsushi” (meaning “professional engineer”) with a probability of 0.85 (as indicated in the sixth line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese hiragana character reading “giji” is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijutsu” (meaning “technology”) with a probability of 0.75 (as indicated in the seventh line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (that is a character having a meaning of pseudo) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijisoukan” (meaning “spurious correlation”) with a probability of 0.55 (as indicated in the eighth line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (that is a character having a meaning of pseudo) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiteki” (meaning “pseudo” (in adjective form)) with a probability of 0.50 (as indicated in the ninth line in the table in FIG. 9). The character string of Japanese Kanji character reading “giji” (that is a character having a meaning of pseudo) is converted to Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiransuu” (meaning “pseudorandom numbers”) with a probability of 0.40 (as indicated in the tenth line in the table in FIG. 9).

In the dictionary data of the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 of FIG. 10, the character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “gijiroku no souhusaki” (meaning recipient of meeting minutes) with a probability of 0.65 (as indicated in the first line in the table in FIG. 10), and the character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “giryoshi” (meaning “technical mass production trial”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “giryoshi wo kessai” (meaning “approve the technical mass production trial”) with a probability of 0.75 (as indicated in the second line in the table in FIG. 10). The character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gishi” (meaning “a professional engineer”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “gishikairengoukai” (meaning “joint association of engineer associations”) with a probability of 0.95 (as indicated in the third line in the table in FIG. 10). The character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijutsu” (meaning “technology”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “gishi engineer” (meaning “professional engineer”) with a probability of 0.85 (as indicated in the fourth line in the table in FIG. 10). The character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijutsu” (meaning “technology”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “gijutsu zasshi sha” (meaning “technology magazine company”) with a probability of 0.65 (as indicated in the fifth line in the table in FIG. 10). The character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (meaning “psuedo”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “giji taiken” (meaning “pseudo experience”) with a probability of 0.45 (as indicated in the sixth line in the table in FIG. 10). The character string of Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (meaning “psuedo”) is converted to Japanese characters reading “giji gyaku gyouretsu” (meaning “pseudo-inverse matrix”) with a probability of 0.35 (as indicated in the seventh line in the table in FIG. 10). In an example of FIG. 10, all of the character strings before conversion are “kanji” characters (Chinese characters), but a character other than the “kanji” characters may be registered.

It should be noted that the dictionary data is language independent, and any character string may be registered as “before conversion” and “after conversion”.

<Operation Command Definition Data Retained by Operation Command Definition Unit>

Next, the operation command definition data used by the operation command recognition control unit 32 is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B. FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate examples of the operation command definition data and system definition data retained by the operation command definition unit 33.

FIG. 11A illustrates an example of operation command definition data. The operation command definition data shown in FIG. 11A is an example of the operation command definition data when there is no selected object selected by the handwritten object, and all operation commands that can be executed by the display apparatus 2 are targeted (included). The operation commands of FIG. 11A include operation command names (Name), character strings that partially match character string candidates (String), and operation command character strings (Command) to be executed. “% to %” in the operation command character strings is a variable and is associated with the system definition data as illustrated in FIG. 11B. In other words, “%-%” is replaced by the system definition data illustrated in FIG. 11B.

First, the operation command definition data item 701 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “gijiroku template wo yomikomu” (meaning read meeting minutes template), the character string that partially matches the character string candidates is Japanese characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) or Japanese characters meaning “template”, and the operation command character string to be executed is “ReadFile Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.: %password%@server.com/templates/minutes.pdf”. In this example, system definition data “% to %” is included in the operation command character string to be executed, and “%username%” and “%password%” are replaced by system definition data items 704 and 705, respectively. Therefore, the final operation command character string is “ReadFile https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/template/minutes.pdf”, indicating that the file “https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/minutes.pdf” is read (ReadFile).

The operation command definition data item 702 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “gijiroku folder ni hozon suru” (meaning “save in the minutes folder”), that the character string that partially matches the character string candidates is Japanese characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) or Japanese characters reading “hozon” (meaning “save”), and that the operation command character string to be executed is “WriteFile https:/%username%:%password%@server.com/minutes/%machinename%_%yyyyy-mm-dd.pdf”. Similar to the operation command definition data item 701, “%username%”, %password%”, and “%machinename%” in the operation command character string are replaced by system definition data items 704-706, respectively. It should be noted that “%yyyy-mm-dd%” is to be replaced by the current date. For example, if the current date is Sep. 26, 2018, it is replaced with “2018-09-26”. The final operating command to be executed is “WriteFile https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/minutes/%My-Machine_2018-09-26.pdf” and indicates that the minutes are to be saved in the file “https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/%Minutes/%My-Machine_2018-09-26.pdf” (WriteFile).

The operation command definition data item 703 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “insatsu suru” (meaning “print”), the character string that partially matches the character string candidates is Japanese characters reading “insatsu” (meaning “print”) or Japanese characters reading “purinto” (meaning “print”), and that the operation command character string to be executed is “PrintFile https:/%username%:%password%@server.com/print/%machiname%-%yyyy-mm-dd%.pdf”. When the operation command character strings are replaced similarly to the operation command definition data item 702, the final operation command to be executed is “PrintFile https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/print/%My-Machine_2018-09-26.pdf”, indicating that the file “https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/print/%My-Machine_2018-09-26.pdf” is printed (PrintFile). That is, the file is transmitted to the server. The user allows the printer to communicate with the server, and the printer prints the contents of the file on the paper when the file is specified.

As described above, because the operation command definition data items 701 to 703 can be identified from the character string candidates, the operation command can be displayed based on the handwriting of the user. Further, in the case where the user authentication is successful, “%username%”, %password%”, etc., in the operation command definition data, are replaced by the user information, and thus, the input and output of the file can be performed in association with the user. In the case where the user's authentication is not performed (including the case of authentication failure if the user can still use the display apparatus 2 after the authentication failure), the display apparatus 2 uses preset “%username%”, %password%”, etc., data of the display apparatus 2. Accordingly, even without user authentication, the input and output of the file can be performed in association with the display apparatus 2.

Operation command definition data items 709, 710, 711, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, and 726 are operation commands to change the pen color. The pen color is the color of handwritten data entered with the pen used by the user. The operation command names of the operation command definition data items 709, 710, 711, 720, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, and 726 are Japanese characters reading “kuro pen” (meaning “black pen”), Japanese characters reading “aka pen” (meaning “red pen”), Japanese characters reading “ao pen” (meaning “blue pen”), Japanese characters reading “midori pen” (meaning “green pen”), Japanese characters reading “magenta pen” (meaning “magenta pen”), and Japanese characters reading “cyan pen” (meaning “cyan pen”), Japanese characters reading “kuro hoso pen” (meaning “thin black pen”), Japanese characters reading “aka hoso pen” (meaning “thin red pen”), Japanese characters reading “ao hoso pen” (meaning “thin blue pen”), and Japanese characters reading “midori hoso pen” (meaning “thin green pen”), respectively. For example, in the case of the Japanese characters reading “kuro pen” (meaning “black pen”) or Japanese characters reading “kuro hoso pen” (meaning “thin black pen”), the character string that is partially matched to the character string candidates is Japanese characters reading “kuro” (meaning “black”) or Japanese characters reading “pen” (meaning “pen”), and if the user writes Japanese characters reading “kuro” (meaning “black”), only the Japanese characters reading “kuro pen” (meaning “black pen”) and Japanese characters reading “kuro hoso pen” (meaning “thin black pen”) are displayed in the operation command candidates. On the other hand, because the Japanese characters reading “pen” (meaning “pen”) corresponds to a character string (String) that partially matches the character string candidates in Japanese characters reading “aka pen” (meaning “red pen”), etc., if the user writes Japanese characters reading “pen” (meaning “pen”), the Japanese characters reading “kuro pen” (meaning “black pen”) to Japanese characters reading “cyan pen” (meaning “cyan pen”), and Japanese characters reading “kuro hoso pen” (meaning “thin black pen”) to Japanese characters reading “midori hoso pen” (meaning “thin green pen”) are displayed in the operation command candidates. When these operation commands are executed, as illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B, the control data associated with the pen ID of the pen 2500 used by the user is updated, and the pen color of this pen ID is set to ColorId of the pen ID control data (e.g., the “Black” in Command=“ChangePen Black” becomes ColorId).

The operation command definition data 719 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “file wo yomikomu” (meaning “read a file”); the character string (String) that matches the character string candidates is Japanese characters reading “file wo yomikomu” (meaning “read a file”), Japanese characters reading “yomikomu” (meaning “read”), Japanese characters reading “yomikomi” (also meaning “read”), and the operation command to be executed is “ReadFile https:/%username%:%password%@server.com/files/”. When the handwritten input display control unit 23 performs replacing using the system definition data in a same way as in the operation command definition data item 702, the operation command becomes “ReadFile https://taro.tokkyo: x2PDHTyS@server.com/files/”, which indicates that the file of this address (folder) is read (ReadFile). When this operation command is executed, the file selection window of FIG. 12 is displayed by the display apparatus 2. The file selection window of FIG. 12 displays the first page and the like of the files stored at this address (folder) as thumbnails.

FIG. 12 is an example of file list display data displayed on the display unit 22 in step S108 (file list display data) of FIG. 53. The thumbnails of FIG. 12 are generated from file list information acquired in file list information acquisition of step S105 of FIG. 53. The file list information includes a list of file addresses, and the display unit 22 extracts the file names and thumbnails from the file addresses, and displays them in an ascending order of the file name. In FIG. 12, four thumbnails and file names are displayed, and when the user touches a right or left arrow icon 99, the thumbnails and file names previous to or subsequent to the current page are displayed. When the user touches any one of the displayed thumbnails and file names with a pen, the display unit 22 erases the screen of FIG. 12, and the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 receives the file from the file address touched with the pen.

When the user touches the close button 98 at the upper left corner with the pen, the display unit 22 erases the screen of FIG. 12 to cancel execution of the operation command definition data 719. When the PDF (Portable Document Format) file (a) or (d) in FIG. 12 is selected, the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 receives the PDF file and stores the PDF file in the handwritten input storage unit 25. The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 analyzes the PDF file. In a case where the PDF file includes handwriting-originated text data (with metadata), for example, the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 saves handwritten input storage data (“black-and-white highlighting and color convertible data”) such as the handwritten input storage data items 801 to 805 of FIG. 16. The “black-and-white highlighting and color convertible data” is data (mainly handwriting-originated data) that can be converted to both of black-and-white highlighting data and color data. The non-handwriting-originated text data is saved upon being converted to handwritten input storage data such as the handwritten input storage data item 806 of FIG. 16, and is displayed on the display 220.

When a PDF file (b) or (c) in FIG. 12 is selected, the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 receives the image file and stores the image file in the handwritten input storage unit 25. The image file is saved as handwritten input storage data such as handwritten input storage data item 807 of FIG. 16 into the handwritten input storage unit 25, and is displayed on the display 220.

Returning to FIGS. 11A and 11B, explanation is hereinafter made. The operation command definition data 712 is an operation command for aligning the orientation of the text data in a constant direction. The operation command name of the operation command definition data 712 is Japanese characters reading “text houkou wo soroeru” (meaning “align the text direction”). The character strings that partially match the character string candidate are Japanese characters reading “text” (meaning “text”), Japanese characters reading “muki” (meaning “direction”), and Japanese characters reading “houkou” (meaning “direction”). The operation command character string is “AlignTextDirection”. The directions of text data items written by a user other than in the vertical direction are not constant, and it is difficult to read them all from a certain direction. When the user executes the operation command definition data 712, the display apparatus 2 aligns the handwriting recognized character strings in any given direction (for example, in the vertical direction). In this case, “aligning” means rotating the text data items according to angular information.

The operation command definition data 713 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “tegaki sign touroku suru” (meaning “register a handwritten signature”), that the character strings that partially match the character string candidates are Japanese characters reading “sign” (meaning “signature”) and Japanese characters reading “touroku” (meaning “register”), and that the operation command character string is “RegisterSignature”. When the RegisterSignature command is executed, a handwritten signature registration form is added to the handwritten input storage unit 25 and the handwritten signature registration form for the user to register the handwritten signature is displayed on the screen. An example of the handwritten signature registration form is explained later in detail (see FIGS. 33A to 33C).

The operation command definition data 714 indicates that the operation command name is Japanese characters reading “tegaki sign-in suru” (meaning “sign-in with handwriting”), that the character string that partially matches the character string candidates is “% signature %”, and that the operation command is “Signin”. In this case, “% signature %” is a reserved word of system definition data and indicates the fact that the registered handwritten signature data matches the stroke data such as the user name. In other words, when the registered handwritten signature data matches the stroke data, the operation command 512 based on the operation command definition data 714 is displayed in an operation guide 500 (see FIG. 34).

When the Signin command is executed, an AccountId of the user with a SignatureID of the matching handwritten signature data is saved in the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 that is used for handwriting of the stroke data, such as the user name. Accordingly, the pen ID is associated with the AccountId, and the user-defined data identified by the AccountId can be used by the display apparatus 2 (see FIG. 17A).

The operation command definition data 715 indicates that the operation command name is Japanese characters reading “tegaki sign-out suru” (meaning “handwritten signing out”), that the character string that partially matches the character string candidate is Japanese characters reading “sign” (meaning “signature”) or Japanese characters reading “out” (meaning “out”), and that the operation command is “Signout”. When the Signout command is executed, the AccountId is deleted from the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 that is operated for the handwritten signout. According to the above, the association between the pen ID and the AccountId is released, and the pen 2500 can be used by any user.

The operation command definition data 716 indicates that the name of the operation command is Japanese characters reading “settei henkou suru” (meaning “changes the setting”), that the character string that partially matches the character string candidate is Japanese characters reading “settei” (meaning “set”) or Japanese characters reading “henkou” (meaning “change”), and that the operation command is “ConfigSettings”. When the ConfigSettings command is executed, the user-defined data change form is added to the handwritten input storage unit 25 and the user-defined data change form is displayed on the screen. The user-defined data change form is explained later (see FIGS. 35A and 35B).

The operation command definition data 741 indicates that the operation command name is Japanese characters reading “hitoku joho no nyuryoku” (meaning “input of confidential information”), that the character strings that partially match the character string candidate include Japanese characters reading “lock” (meaning “lock”) and Japanese characters reading “kimitsu joho” (meaning “confidential information”), and that the operation command is “RecognitionControl”. When the RecognitionControl command is executed, the form of the input window 110 is added to the handwritten input storage unit 25, and the input window 110 is displayed on the screen (see FIGS. 22A and 22B).

Next, handwritten signature data in a case where there is a handwritten object is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of operation command definition data in a case where there is a selection object selected by the handwritten object. The operation command definition data of FIG. 13 includes an operation command name (Name), a group name (Group) of an operation command candidate, and an operation command character string (Command) to be executed.

The operation command definition data item 707 defines an edit-related (Group=“Edit”) operation command, and is an example of definition data edit-related operation command names, i.e., Japanese characters reading “syokyo” (meaning “delete”), Japanese characters reading “idou” (meaning “move”), Japanese characters reading “kaiten” (meaning “rotate”), and Japanese characters reading “sentaku” (meaning “select”). Specifically, these operation commands are displayed with respect to the selection object, and the user can select a desired operation command.

The operation command definition data item 708 defines decorate-related (Group=“Decorate”) operation commands, and is an example of definition data of decorate-related operation command names, i.e., Japanese characters reading “hutoku” (meaning “increase the thickness”), Japanese characters reading “hosoku” (meaning “decrease the thickness”), Japanese characters reading “okiku” (meaning “increase the size”), Japanese characters reading “chiisaku” (meaning “decrease the size”), and Japanese characters reading “kasen” (meaning “underline”). These operation commands are displayed with respect to the selection object, and the user can select a desired operation command. Other than the above, operation commands of colors may be displayed.

Since the operation command definition data items 707, 708 are specified by the user who selects the selection object with the handwritten object, the operation command can be displayed according to user's handwriting.

The operation command definition data 731 defines a non-grouped (Group=“None”) operation command, and is an example of data in which the operation command name is Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as page name”). FIGS. 30A, 30B, 31A, and 31B illustrate examples of displays of these operation commands. When the operation command definition data 731 is selected, the display apparatus 2 executes “SetPageName” with respect to the selection object to set the character string of the selection object as the page name of the currently displayed page. This page name is displayed in real time in the page navigation.

<User-Defined Data>

Next, user-defined data is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 illustrates an example of the user-defined data retained by the operation command definition unit 33. The user-defined data of FIG. 14 is an example of the defined data for a single user. “AccountId” in user-defined data 717 is user identification information that is automatically assigned to each user; “AccountUsername” and “AccountPassword” are a user name (described as “Suzuki” in Japanese kanji characters) and a password; “SignatureId” is identification information of handwritten signature data that is automatically assigned at the time of handwritten signature data registration; and “username,” “password” and “machinename” are character strings that are set to replace system definition data items 704 to 706, respectively, in operation command definition data items 701 to 703. According to the above, it becomes possible to execute an operation command using user-defined data.

If a user handwrites a username or the like to sign in, a character string of user-defined data, whose AccountId is associated with pen ID of a pen 2500 used by the user, is used when executing the operation command, taking advantage of the fact that pen ID and AccountId are associated with the pen ID control data (see FIG. 17A). After the user has signed out, the character string of the system defined data is used when executing the operation command, even if the pen 2500, which the user has used for signing in, is used.

User defined data 718 is the data used in the user-defined data change form. “Name” is the item names of “AccountUsername”, “AccountPassword”, “username”, “password”, or “machinename” of user-defined data 717, and “data” is the change values of “AccountUsername”, “AccountPassword”, “username”, “password”, or “machinename”. In this example, the data for Japanese characters reading “namae” (meaning “name”) is “%AccountName%”, the data for Japanese characters reading “password” (meaning “password”) is “%AccountPassword%”, the data for Japanese characters reading “folder user mei” (meaning “folder user name”) is “%username%”, the data for Japanese characters reading “folder password” (meaning “folder password”) is “%password”, and the data for Japanese characters reading “folder file name” (meaning “folder file name”) is “%machinename%”, which corresponds to the user-defined data 717. These items entered in the user-defined data change form are reflected in the user-defined data 717.

It is also possible for the user to register the color definition data described below in the user-defined data 717, allowing the user to enter with the color definition data as defined by the user.

<Handwritten Signature Data>

Next, handwritten signature data is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of handwritten signature data retained by the handwritten signature data storage unit 39. The handwritten signature data has data representing the handwritten signature associated with SignatureId. The SignatureId is identification information automatically assigned at the time of handwritten signature data registration, and the Data is data calculated by the handwritten signature authentication algorithm of the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 from the stroke data received from the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38.

<Handwritten Input Storage Data Saved by Handwritten Input Storage Unit>

Next, the handwritten input storage data is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 16. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of the handwritten input storage data stored in the handwritten input storage unit 25. A line in FIG. 16 represents a stroke, a sentence (text), or an image.

In the case where Type is “stroke”, one handwritten input storage data has items of DataId, Type, PenId, ColorId, Angle, StartPoint, StartTime, EndPoint, EndTime, Point, and Pressure. DataId is identification of a stroke. Type is a type of handwritten input storage data. Type includes stroke (Stroke), group (Group), test (Text), and image (Image). The type of handwritten input storage data items 801 and 802 is “Stroke”. The type of handwritten input storage data item 803 is “Group”. The type of handwritten input storage data items 804, 805, and 806 is “Text”. The type of handwritten input storage data item 807 is “Image”.

“Group” means to group other strokes, and the handwritten input storage data with “Group” type specifies a stroke to be grouped with DataId. PenId, ColorId, and Angle are copied from the pen ID control data described below. StartPoint is the starting coordinate of the stroke and StartTime is the starting time of the stroke. EndPoint is the end coordinate of the stroke and EndTime is the end time of the stroke. Point is a sequence of coordinates from the start to the end, and Pressure is pen pressures from the start to the end. As shown in Angle, it is indicated that the handwritten input storage data items 804 and 805 are rotated clockwise by 180 degrees and 270 degrees, respectively, before being handwriting-recognized.

Further, Handwritten input storage data items 804, 805, and 806, whose type is “Text”, have Text, FontName, FontSize. FontName is a font name of the text, FontSize is a character size, and Text is a content (character code) of the text. In the Handwritten input storage data items 804, 805, and 806, the font names (FontName) are indicated as “pop typeface”, “Gothic typeface”, and “Meirio typeface”, respectively.

If there is no FontName in the pen ID control data, the handwritten input storage unit 25 copies the FontStyle of the font data 405 of the defined control data shown in FIG. 7 to the handwritten input storage data. FontSize is copied from the font data 405 of the defined control data of FIG. 7.

Handwritten input storage data items 801-805 may be attached as meta-data as handwriting-originated data when storing the file. Accordingly, the display apparatus 2 can obtain the handwritten input storage data items 801 to 805 when the file is read. When the display apparatus 2 transmits the handwritten input storage data to an external apparatus, the display apparatus 2 may convert the handwritten input storage data to color data when the external apparatus is a color supporting apparatus, and may either convert or not convert the handwritten input storage data to color data when the external apparatus is a black-and-white supporting apparatus. When transmitting to the black and white highlighting supporting apparatus, the display apparatus 2 only needs to transmit the handwritten input storage data. As described above, the handwritten input storage data items 801-805 correspond to both black-and-white highlighting and color conversion.

Handwritten input storage data items 801-805 are handwriting-originated data, whereas handwritten input storage data items 806-807 are not handwriting-originated data. These are files read by the file reading command. What is described above is determined according to whether or not a color value defined by the color definition data described below is registered or not in ColorId. For example, ColorId of the handwritten input storage data item 801 is “Black”, while ColorId of the handwritten input storage data item 806 is “#e6001200”. “#e6001200” is represented by “#” and hexadecimal 8 digits. R (red), G (green), B (blue), and A (transparency) are represented in each of the two digits.

As described above, for handwriting-originated text data, ColorId contains a character string that represents color information, but for non-handwriting-originated text data, ColorId is “# color value”. Thus, whether or not the text data being originated from handwriting is determined by paying attention to ColorId.

The handwritten input storage unit 25 stores the color of the text data of the file read by the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 as ColorId=“#e6001200”. Therefore, the handwritten input storage data item 806 does not correspond to black-and-white highlighting, but only corresponds to color conversion.

The handwritten input display control unit 23 determines whether or not the data is originated from the handwriting based on ColorId, and when the data is not originated from the handwriting, calculates and displays the gray scale value from the RGBA. If the display apparatus 2 is a color supporting apparatus, the RGBA is displayed as it is.

The handwritten input storage data item 807 is also an image file read from a storage medium by a file reading command. If the Type is “Image”, the handwritten input storage data item 807 has FileId and FileName. The FileId is a control number in the handwritten input storage data, and FileName is an original file name. For example, in a case where the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 reads the file “color chart.pdf” of (a) in FIG. 12, the text of RGBCMY in the center is saved in the handwritten input storage unit 25 in the format of the handwritten input storage data item 806. The ring-shaped color portion is saved in the handwritten input storage unit 25 in the format of the handwritten input storage data item 807. Since the handwritten input storage data of which the Type is an Image is naturally not originated from handwriting, whether or not any given data is originated from handwriting may be determined on the basis of the Type.

In FIG. 16, whether or not the data being originated from handwriting is indicated by a value of ColorId. However, whether or not the data being originated from handwriting may be indicated by a dedicated flag or the like. Further, it is limited to handwritten data whose Type is “stroke”, but whether or not the data is originated from handwriting may be determined from the shape. In this case, the learning device learns the correspondence between teacher data, which indicates handwriting-originated data or non-handwriting-originated data, and character shapes, such as in deep learning, and outputs whether the input character shape is handwriting-originated data.

In addition, the handwriting-originated data may include not only text data converted from the handwritten data based on the character recognition, but also data converted based on the user's operations, such as a stamp displayed as a fixed character or mark such as Japanese characters reading “sumi” (meaning “completed”) or Japanese characters reading “hi” (meaning “secret”), a shape such as a circle or a star, and a straight line.

The handwritten input storage data is used in step S7 (pen coordinates and reception time) of FIG. 45, step S102 (acquisition of handwritten input storage data) of FIG. 53, step S110 (file storage) of FIG. 53, and the like.

<Pen ID Control Data Stored in Pen ID Control Data Storage Unit>

Next, the pen ID control data is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 17A and 17B. FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams illustrating examples of pen ID control data items 901 to 904 stored in the pen ID control data storage unit 36. The pen ID control data controls the color, and the like of handwritten input originated data. FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate that there are four pens 2500. Four is an example. There may be one or more pens 2500.

A single row of FIG. 17A indicates the pen ID control data of a single pen. Further, FIG. 17B is a diagram illustrating angle information when a user performs handwriting with respect to the display apparatus 2. Angle information corresponds to an operation position, and may be an angle of direction in which the user resides, may be an angle of direction in which the pen is used, or may be an angle related to the rotation of the character handwritten by the user. With the predetermined direction of the display apparatus 2 (e.g., vertical direction) as 0 degrees (reference), the angular information of each user is 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 225 degrees, 270 degrees, and 315 degrees counterclockwise.

It should be noted that the angle information is not automatically determined by an operation position of the user. Each user sets the angle information. There are two methods of setting: one is by inputting a line, which is hereinafter explained later, and the other is by selecting an operation menu. The resolution of the angle information that can be specified by inputting a line (45 degrees in FIGS. 17A and 17B) is only an example, and may be smaller, such as 5 degrees to 30 degrees. It should be noted that it is understood that, if the characters are rotated about 45 degrees, the user can read them.

The pen ID control data items 901-904 may have PenId, ColorId, Angle, FontName (font specification), handwriting recognition candidate off state (Recommended MenuOff), and AccountId. Except for PenId, it is optional. AccountId is mapped to the pen used by the user for signing in. PenId is identification information stored in the pen 2500. ColorId indicates the color selected by the user using the pen 2500 (can be changed by the user). A color ID of the color definition data described later is set to ColorId. Details (thickness, etc.) of each color are defined in the color definition data.

Angle is angle information of stroke that is set to the pen 2500 (the user can change it arbitrarily). In an example of FIG. 17A, the angle information for each pen is 0 degrees, 90 degrees, 180 degrees, and 270 degrees counterclockwise. AccountId is identification information of the user. By associating the pen ID with AccountId, it is possible to identify AccountId that is associated with the pen ID of the pen 2500 used by the user, and to execute the operation command using the user-defined data.

FontName is added when the user touches a pen color selection button of FIGS. 21A and 21B. When FontName is added, in the character string object font acquisition in step S81 of FIG. 51, FontName is acquired instead of FontStyle included in the font data 405 of the defined control data shown in FIG. 7. Character string objects are displayed with the font of FontName.

Pen ID control data 901 is pen ID control data with PenId=1, color is black (Black), angle information is 0 degrees, AccountId=1, no FontName, and no RecommendMenuOff. The user of AccountId=1 is the user of user-defined data 717 of FIG. 14. It is indicated that the user has handwritten the user's name with the pen with PenId=1 to sign in, and selected black. Pen ID control data without AccountId indicates a signed out state (not associated with the user). Similarly, the pen ID control data 902 is pen ID control data with PenId=2. The color is red. The angle is 90 degrees. There is no AccountId. FontName is Japanese characters reading “pop tai” (meaning “pop typeface”). There is no RecommendationMenuOff.

In the pen ID control data 903, a handwriting recognition candidate off state (RecommendedMenuOff) is set. The handwriting recognition candidate off state (RecommendMenuOff) is control data for controlling the operation guide 500 (described below) not to display the character string candidate 539 (only the operation command is displayed) or not to display even the operation command candidate 510. In the latter case, the operation guide 500 itself is not displayed. The handwriting recognition candidate off state (RecommendMenuOff) is set by touching the handwriting recognition candidate ON/OFF button (see FIG. 37) which is hereinafter explained later. When a user enters handwritten data that does not require character recognition, such as graphics, some users may find the operation guide 500 to be an obstacle. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the handwriting recognition candidate off state can be controlled, so that the operation guide 500 can be hidden from display, and when the display apparatus 2 does not perform character recognition, the processing load can be reduced. Pen ID control data 903 has a Pen ID of 3. The color is blue. The angle is 180 degrees. There is no AccountId. There is no FontName.

Pen ID control data 904 has a Pen ID of 4. The color is green. The angle is 270 degrees. There is no AccountId. There is no FontName. There is no RecommendMenuOff.

When RecommendMenuOff=“True” is added to the pen ID control data, the operation command is not executed by adopting a control without displaying the operation command. Therefore, a button operation as shown in FIG. 37 is required to cancel RecommendMenuOff=“True”.

Further, the pen ID control data, of the pen 2500 with which the user touches the pen color selection button of FIGS. 21A and 21B or the button of FIG. 37, is updated with the ColorId, Angle, FontName, and RecommendMenuOff defined in the touched button.

The pen ID control data is used in step S5 (acquiring the pen ID control data) of FIG. 45, step S20 (storing the angle information of the pen ID control data) of FIG. 47, step S21 (acquiring the angle information of the pen ID control data) of FIG. 47, and step S60 (acquiring the pen ID control data) of FIG. 49.

<Color Definition Data>

FIG. 18 illustrates an example of color definition data. A single row of color definition data defines a single color. The color definition data defines the black-and-white highlighting display (the display method of the black-and-white pattern and width (pattern) and border (Edged)) on the black-and-white supporting apparatus with respect to ColorId, and the color conversion method (the display method of the color information (Color) and the width (Width) on the color supporting apparatus). Color information is represented by # and hexadecimal 8 digits. Color information represents #R (red), G (green), B (blue), and A (transparency) for every two digits, and px represents the pixel width. It should be noted that the color definition data is applied only to handwriting-originated data.

Color definition data 1001 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Black”. A device that supports black-and-white highlighting, which cannot perform color displaying, indicates color according to the line type. Pattern indicates the contents of the edge of the stroke or text. Edged indicates the presence or absence of edges. Color indicates RGBA color information. Width indicates line width. The color definition data 1001 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays the handwritten input storage data with a solid black 5 pixel width+no edge, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with the black 0% transparency+5 pixel width. Similarly, color definition data 1002 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Red”. The color definition data 1002 indicates that the black-and-white supporting apparatus displays handwritten input storage data with the solid black 3 pixel width+the black edge 1 pixel width from the outside to the black edge 1 pixel width+the white edge 2 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with the red transparency 0%+5 pixel width of the color chart. The color definition data 1003 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Blue”, and indicates that the black-and white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with a solid white 4 pixel width+black edge 1 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with a blue 0% transparency+5 pixel width of the color chart. Color definition data 1004 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Green”. Color definition data 1004 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays, with black dot pattern 4 pixel width+black edge 1 pixel width, the handwritten input storage data and that the color supporting apparatus displays with green transparency 0%+5 pixel width of the color chart. Color definition data 1005 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Magenta”. Color definition data 1005 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with a black upper right oblique pattern with white transparent 5 pixel width+no border, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with magenta with 60% transparency of the color chart. Color definition data 1006 is an example of a line type or color definition where ColorId is “Cyan”. Color definition data 1006 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with the black horizontal line pattern with white transparent 5 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with cyan transparency 60% of the color chart.

Color definition data 1007 defines a line type or color where ColorId is “ThinBlack”. The color definition data 1007 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with a solid black 3 pixel width+no edge, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with the black 0% transparency+3 pixel width. Color definition data 1008 defines a line type or color where ColorId is “ThinRed”. The color definition data 1008 indicates that the black-and-white supporting apparatus displays with the solid black 1 pixel width+the black edge 1 pixel width from the outside+the white edge 1 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with the red transparency 0%+3 pixel width of the color chart. Color definition data 1009 defines a line type or color where ColorId is “ThinBlue”. The color definition data 1009 indicates that the black-and white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with a solid white 2 pixel width+black edge 1 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with a blue 0% transparency+3 pixel width of the color chart. Color definition data 1010 defines a line type or color where ColorId is “ThinGreen”. Color definition data 1010 indicates that the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus displays with black dot pattern 2 pixel width+black edge 1 pixel width, and that the color supporting apparatus displays with green transparency 0%+3 pixel width of the color chart.

As described above, the color definition data includes “black-and-white highlighting and color convertible data”. The color definition data is retained by the handwritten input storage unit 25 and is used to convert the handwritten input storage data.

After signing in, the user can preferably modify the color definition by defining the color definition data in the system definition data and in the user definition data and by adding a form of changing the color definition data to the user definition data.

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate data displayed with black-and-white highlighting using the color definition data of FIG. 18 and data displayed according to a color display method, respectively. The characters and drawings in FIG. 19A are displayed by a black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus with black-and-white highlighting. The characters and drawings in FIG. 19B are displayed by a color supporting apparatus upon conversion into colors. For the sake of convenience in preparation of drawings, the characters and drawings in FIG. 19B are represented in black and white (hatching).

Reference symbol C1 indicates handwriting-originated texts in “black”, “red”, “blue”, “green”, “magenta”, and “cyan” (expressed in Japanese characters corresponding to these meanings), reference symbol C2 indicates strokes in “black”, “red”, “green”, “magenta”, and “cyan” (handwriting) (expressed in Japanese characters corresponding to these meanings), reference symbol C3 indicates one-stroke spring-shaped marks (handwritings), reference symbol C4 indicates a donut-shaped color chart (an image), and reference symbol C5 indicates RGBCMY on the inner side of the color chart (non-handwriting-originated text). There are handwriting-originated texts “Transparent” in black under the one-stroke spring-shaped marks indicated by reference symbol C3.

The color chart indicated by reference symbol C4 and the text “RGBCMY” indicated by reference symbol C5 are data read from a PDF file and the like, and are assumed to be non-handwriting originated. Therefore, when the handwritten input storage data saved in the handwritten input storage unit 25 as illustrated in FIG. 16 is explained, the strokes indicated by reference symbol C2 (handwriting) are saved as the handwritten input storage data items 801, 802 illustrated in FIG. 16. The handwriting-originated texts indicated by reference symbol C1 are saved as the handwritten input storage data items 804, 805 illustrated in FIG. 16. The non-handwriting-originated text indicated by reference symbol C5 is saved as the handwritten input storage data item 806 illustrated in FIG. 16. The image indicated by reference symbol C4 is saved as handwritten input storage data such as the handwritten input storage data item 807 illustrated in FIG. 16. The color information of each handwritten input storage data item is defined by ColorId.

As can be understood by comparing FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B, the text “R” on the inner side of the color chart indicated by reference symbol C10 in FIG. 19B is non-handwriting originated, and accordingly, FIG. 19A is displayed as grayscale. In contrast, the text “red” indicated by reference symbol C6 is handwriting originated, and is displayed with black-and-white highlighting in FIG. 19A.

Magenta and cyan are transparent colors. Accordingly, in FIG. 19B, characters “Transparent” are seen transparently. In FIG. 19A, magenta and cyan are also displayed transparently because a transparent pattern is used for white. In this manner, the black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus can display an image upon applying black-and-white highlighting to colors for attracting attention, and the color device can display an image upon converting the image into colors.

The color definition data is retained by the handwritten input display control unit 23, and is used in step S6 (coordinate complement display data) of FIG. 45, step S82 (character string object display data) of FIG. 51, and step S114 (object display data) of FIG. 53.

<Pen Color Selection Button Definition Data>

Next, a method for selecting a pen color by a user is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 20 and FIGS. 21A and 21B. FIG. 20 is an example of a pen color selection button definition data. The pen color selection button definition data is data that associates the pen button displayed on the display 220 with ColorId. The pen color selection button definition data has a Pen button ID (PenButtonId), an icon file (Icon), a color ID (ColorId), and a font name (FontName). In FIG. 20, with respect to the font name (FontName), the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1101 indicates “Mincho-tai” (Ming typeface), the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1102 indicates “pop-tai” (Pop typeface), the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1103 indicates “Gothic-tai” (Gothic typeface), the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1104 indicates “Reisho-tai” (clerical script typeface), the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1105 indicates “Kaisho-tai” (regular script typeface), and the pen color selection button definition data denoted by 1101 indicates “Gyosho-tai” (semi-cursive script typeface).

FIGS. 21A and 21B are examples of pen color selection buttons 81-86 displayed on a display. Pen color selection buttons 81-86 are displayed using the above-described icon files. It is assumed that the pen color selection buttons 81-86 are displayed from left to right in the ascending order of the pen button ID. When the user touches the pen color selection buttons 81-86 with a pen 2500, ColorId and FontName are added to the pen ID control data, and, thereafter, the handwritten objects or character string objects entered with the pen 2500 are displayed using the ColorId and the FontName.

The pen color selection button definition data 1101 is definition data of the pen color selection button 81 displayed at the left-most. When the user touches the pen color selection button 81 with the pen 2500, ColorId of stroke data, which is handwritten with the pen 2500, is “Black and a font of a text after handwriting recognition is Mincho typeface. The pen color selection button definition data 1102 corresponds to a pen color selection button 82, which is displayed at second from the left. ColorId of the stroke data is “Red” and a font of a text after handwriting recognition is pop typeface. Similarly, pen color selection button definition data items 1103-1106 define display positions, ColorIds, and fonts of text, of the pen color selection buttons 83-86.

FIG. 21A illustrates an example of a text font display highlighted in black and white based on the pen color selection button definition data. A text font display example is a descriptive display, but may be displayed when the user hovers the pen 2500. FIG. 21B illustrates an example of a text font displayed in color by a color supporting apparatus based on the pen color selection button definition data (should be displayed in color, but is shown in black and white for the sake of drawing convenience). In FIGS. 21A and 21B, with respect to the examples of text font displays, the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 81 reads “black pen is Mincho typeface”, the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 82 reads “red pen is pop typeface”, the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 83 reads “blue pen is Gothic typeface”, the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 84 reads “green pen is Reisho-tai (clerical script typeface)”, the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 85 reads “magenta pen is Kaisho-tai (regular script typeface)”, and the example displayed with respect to the pen color selection button 86 reads “cyan pen is Gyosho-tai (semi-cursive script typeface)”.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A, not only by using black-and-white highlighting but also by using the change of font, the black-and-white highlighting display can be more effective.

After the handwritten signature authentication, the user can preferably modify the pen color selection button by defining the pen color selection button definition data in the system definition data and in the user definition data and by adding a form of changing the pen color selection button definition data to the user definition data. Therefore, the correspondence between ColorId and fonts is only an example.

The pen color selection button is retained by the handwritten input display control unit 23, and is used in step S6 (coordinate complement display data) of FIG. 45, step S82 (character string object display data) of FIG. 51, and step S114 (object display data) of FIG. 53.

<Examples of Definition Data of Handwritten Input Area>

FIGS. 22A and 22B are drawings illustrating examples of displays of handwritten input area. The user makes a selection from the operation guide 500 by handwriting “lock” or “confidential information”. Accordingly, the display apparatus 2 executes an operation command “RecognitionControl” of the operation command definition data 741 of FIG. 11A, so that the input window 110 of FIG. 22A is displayed.

It is assumed that confidential information is input to the handwritten input area 2706, and hereinafter, a case where the user inputs, by handwriting, a user code constituted by only numerals is explained. The user code is one of identification information for identifying the user. The user ID used for the account is an e-mail address or the like, whereas the user code identifies the user by the numerals in a simplified manner.

Authentication by handwritten signature data requires the administrator to associate the handwritten signature data with the account, which increases the cost. In contrast, because since the user code is already associated with the account, the user code allows the user authentication to be performed with less increase in the cost. That is, in the present embodiment, authentication can be performed with the user code instead of performing authentication with handwritten signature data.

FIG. 22A illustrates a handwritten input area 2706 in which handwritten data is not displayed (stroke display-disabled state). FIG. 22B illustrates a handwritten input area 2706 in which handwritten data is displayed (stroke display-enabled state).

Immediately after the user displays the input window 110, the display apparatus 2 is in the stroke display-disabled state. The input window 110 includes a guide message 2702, a close button 2703, a mask display 2704, a display-enable/disable display switch button 2705, a handwritten input area 2706, and a confirmation button 2707.—The guide message 2702 is a message meaning “please input the user code”.

-   -   The close button 2703 is used by the user to cancel the         operation of the input window 110 and close the input window         110.     -   The mask display 2704 is a recognition result of handwritten         data, which is displayed with masking. The character used for         the masking is not limited to “●”, and may be a character “*”, a         hatching pattern, or the like. The number of characters “●”         matches the number of characters, and therefore, the user can         find the number of characters that the user has input.         Alternatively, the number of characters “●” may be different         from the number of characters. In this case, it is difficult to         guess the character string.     -   The display-enable/disable display switch button 2705 is a         button for switching the mask display 2704 and the recognition         result 2709 of the handwriting recognition, and further         switching the display-enabled state and the display-disabled         state of the strokes in the handwritten input area 2706.     -   The handwritten input area 2706 is an area in which the user         inputs numerals of the user code by handwriting.     -   The confirmation button 2707 is a button with which the user         confirms the user code recognized from the handwritten input.

When the user touches the display-enable/disable display switch button 2705, the display apparatus 2 changes to the stroke display-enabled state as illustrated in FIG. 22B. The user code 2710 which the user has handwritten is displayed in the handwritten input area 2706. The mask display 2704 is displayed as the recognition result 2709 of the handwritten data. The recognition result 2709 is a character string constituted by, for example, characters in Japanese, English, or the like, or numbers, symbols, or the like. In the present embodiment, the recognition result 2709 is constituted by only numerals.

In the stroke display-enabled state, the strokes handwritten by the user until then and the recognition result 2709 of the handwriting recognition are displayed. Hereinafter, the display apparatus 2 displays the character string of the recognition result of the handwriting recognition obtained by recognizing the handwritten strokes added by the user.

When the user operates the display-enable/disable display switch button 2705 in the state of FIG. 22B, the display apparatus 2 changes the user code 2710 of the handwritten input area 2706 to the display-disabled state, and displays the mask display 2704 again.

There may be multiple handwritten input areas 2706. For example, a handwritten input area 2706 may be prepared for each character.

FIG. 23 is a drawing illustrating an example of definition data of the handwritten input area. FIG. 24 is a drawing for explaining an example of configuration of the handwritten input area. In FIG. 23 and FIG. 24, three areas are defined.

(i) An area on the outer side of the input window 110 (which is referred to as an area A in a sequence diagram explained later. However, this does not include areas B, C explained below.) The area A is not limited to the outer side of the input window 110, and is an area for handwriting in general.

This area (x11, y11) to (x12, y12) is defined by the definition data 2804.

(ii) An area of the input window 110 on the outer side of the handwritten input area (which is referred to as an area B in the sequence diagram explained later. However, this does not include an area C below).

This area (x21, y21) to (x22, y22) is an area defined by the definition data 2805.

(iii) A handwritten input area (which is referred to as an area C in the sequence diagram explained later).

This area (x31, y31) to (x32, y32) is an area defined by the definition data 2806 or 2807.

(i) The area A on the outer side of the input window 110 is defined by the definition data 2804 of FIG. 23. (ii) The area B of the input window 110 on the outer side of the handwritten input area 2706 is defined by the definition data 2805 of FIG. 23. (iii) The area C (i.e., the handwritten input area 2706) is defined by the definition data 2806, 2807 of FIG. 23. The definition data 2806 is definition data in the handwritten data display-disabled state, whereas the definition data 2807 is definition data in the handwritten data display-enabled state.

Hereinafter, the attributes of definition data are explained.

-   -   RegionId is an identifier of an area. RegionId is used when the         definition data is referred to by the handwriting recognition         control unit 26. This is not used in the example of definition         data.     -   Depth is an order of overlapping in the depth direction. As the         value of Depth increases, definition data indicates an area         arranged at a depth closer to the user. When an event of         pen-down occurs, the handwriting recognition control unit 26         executes control according to definition data of which the Depth         is the largest from among Positions including the coordinates of         the pen.     -   Positions are a range of coordinates of an area. Positions         include start point coordinates and end point coordinates of a         rectangular area.—Recognition is a handwriting recognition mode.         Recognition is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 25.     -   RecognitionDic is a handwriting recognition dictionary file name         used by an area. The dictionary files of the definition data         2804 include “recognition.doc”, “conversion.dic”, and         “prediction.dic”, which correspond to the general-purpose         handwriting recognition dictionary (the handwriting recognition         dictionary unit 27), the character string conversion dictionary         (the character string conversion dictionary unit 29 of FIGS. 6A         and 6B), and the prediction conversion dictionary (the         predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 of FIGS. 6A and 6B),         respectively. In other words, the same dictionary files as the         dictionary files for ordinary handwriting recognition are used.         The dictionary file “number.dic” of the definition data 2806,         2807 is a handwriting recognition dictionary file dedicated for         numerals. Accordingly, the dictionary file “number.dic” returns         a recognition result of any one of numerals 0 to 9, whatever the         user handwrites. In the present embodiment, the user cannot see         handwriting strokes of handwritten data, and accordingly, there         is a higher possibility that the user fails to neatly write         strokes than when the user writes strokes while seeing the         handwritten strokes of handwritten data. Therefore, a higher         recognition accuracy than when the user writes while seeing the         handwriting strokes is required. Accordingly, in the present         embodiment, the dictionary used for recognition of an input to         the handwritten input area is limited to numerals. The         dictionary limited to numerals achieves the highest recognition         rate, which eliminates the necessity of displaying a selectable         candidate 530 explained later. The reason why the character         string conversion dictionary and the prediction conversion         dictionary are not specified in the definition data 2806, 2807         is because a sufficiently practical recognition accuracy can be         performed with only the handwriting recognition dictionary         dedicated for numerals. However, in a case where a sufficiently         practical recognition accuracy can be obtained by using the         handwriting recognition dictionary, the character string         conversion dictionary, and the prediction conversion dictionary,         these dictionaries may be used for the definition data 2806,         2807.

FIG. 25 is a drawing indicating whether control of handwriting recognition, selectable candidate display, stroke display, dialog control, and a user interface operation are enabled or disabled for possible values that may be taken by Recognition.

-   -   When Recognition has a value “Enable”, the handwriting         recognition control unit 26 performs the handwriting         recognition, and the operation guide 500 (the selectable         candidate 530) explained later is displayed. In this case,         handwritten data is displayed, and control of         display-enable/disable display of the handwritten data         recognition result (dialog control) is not performed. Also, the         user interface operation is disabled. The user interface         operation indicates whether the display apparatus 2 receives an         operation that is not an input of strokes, such as a button         operation of the input window 110. Therefore, the value “Enable”         of Recognition indicates a normal input mode (i.e., strokes are         recognized to display the selectable candidate 530, and when a         candidate is selected, an input of the selectable candidate is         received).     -   When Recognition has a value “Disable”, everything other than         the user interface operation is disabled, and the user cannot         input handwritten data. The user can perform only menu operation         for operating an operation panel and the like.     -   When Recognition has a value “ForceForDialog”, handwritten         strokes are recognized, but any selectable candidate is not         displayed. Also, handwritten strokes are displayed, and the         dialog control is enabled. The dialog control means that the         display unit 22 displays the recognition result of the         handwritten data at the position with the font specified with         the input window 110. In other words, by operating the         display-enable/disable display switch button 2705, display of         the mask display 2704 and display of the recognition result 2709         of the handwritten data are switched. An area where the         recognition result 2709 of the handwritten data is displayed may         be outside of the area of the ForceForDialog. With the stroke         display being enabled, the user can see handwritten strokes.         Therefore, the ForceForDialog corresponds to the handwritten         input area 2706 of FIG. 22B. In the area of the ForceForDialog,         handwritten data is displayed, and an input of a character         string with the highest recognition probability is automatically         received and adopted, without displaying selectable candidates         of the character string obtained by recognizing handwritten         data.     -   When the Recognition has a value “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke”,         the stroke display is disabled. In this case, the dialog control         is enabled, and accordingly, the mask display 2704 is displayed         by operating the display-enable/disable display switch button         2705. Other features are the same as the “ForceForDialog”.         Therefore, the “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke” corresponds to the         handwritten input area 2706 of FIG. 22A in which handwritten         data is not displayed. In the area of the         “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke”, neither handwritten data nor a         converted character string is displayed, and an input of a         character string is received and adopted.

The reason why the RegionId of the definition data 2806 and RegionId of the definition data 2807 are the same is because they both indicate the same area (2706 and 2710 of FIGS. 22A and 22B). When the user opens the input window 110 of FIG. 22A, the definition data 2806 is added, and when the display-enable/disable display switch button 2705 is operated, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 changes the definition data 2806 to the definition data 2807. Accordingly, the handwritten data is displayed in the handwritten input area 2706.

According to the control using the Recognition as illustrated in FIG. 25, for example, the following control can be performed. In a case where handwritten data is input with the pen 2500 to an area that is not a predetermined area, the display apparatus 2 displays selectable candidates of a character string converted from handwritten data. Then, the display apparatus 2 displays, in the area that is not the predetermined area, a character string selected from selectable candidates, and receives the input of the character string. Conversely, when handwritten data is input to the predetermined area with the pen 2500, selectable candidates are not displayed. Then, the display apparatus 2 receives an input of a character string converted from handwritten data.

Force is an area in which the selectable candidate display of Enable is disabled. That is, Force is used as the area where the candidate with the highest probability of recognition is automatically selected by the display apparatus 2. For example, Force is used when the range of characters or character strings to be input, is predetermined (e.g., the gender, the age, the regional name). Force is not used in the definition data 2804-2807, but is used in the definition data of the mask display area in FIG. 27.

In this manner, in association with an area the display apparatus 2 retains information defining whether recognition of handwritten data is enabled or disabled, whether selectable candidates of a character string obtained by recognizing handwritten data are in the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state, and whether handwritten data is in the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state. On the basis of the above information and the area where handwritten data is input, the display apparatus 2 selects whether handwritten data is recognized, whether selectable candidates are in the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state, and whether handwritten data is in the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state.

In the definition data of FIG. 25, although the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state of strokes is associated with an area, the display apparatus 2 may control the display-enabled state or the display-disabled state of strokes with respect to a time. For example, the input mode of confidential information is set to the ON state immediately after the display apparatus 2 is started, or the user operates a menu to manually turn ON the input mode of confidential information. The display apparatus 2 operates in the “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke” for a certain period of time from the time when the input mode of confidential information is turned ON (i.e., regardless of the area of input). In this case, although it is also not necessary to display the input window 110, the display-enable/disable display switch button 2705 may be displayed in order to allow the user to confirm the handwritten character string. After a certain period of time elapses, the display apparatus 2 returns back to the state similar to the area A.

Alternatively, the display-enabled state and the display-disabled state of strokes and the like may be switched, in response to a user's manual operation, instead of a time. From when the input mode of confidential information is turned OFF to when it is turned ON by the user with a menu and the like, the display apparatus 2 operates in the “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke”.

<Mask Display Area and Definition Data of Mask Display Area>

FIG. 26 illustrates an example of a mask display area. FIG. 27 illustrates an example of the definition data of the mask display area. FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 illustrate the mask display area set when the display apparatus 2 is used for a reception operation, as an example. This is only an example, and the size, the number, or the position of the area can be arbitrarily set by the user.

Row headings (1, 2, 3, 4 . . . ), column headings (“NAME”, “FURIGANA”, “GENDER”, “AGE”), and ruled lines are fixed and displayed in the background layer when the power of the display apparatus 2 is turned on. The user handwrites information on the layer in front of the background layer.

The user listens to visitors and handwrites information in each area of the name, furigana, gender, and age columns. The name and furigana are personal information (confidential information), and, therefore, it is preferable that the display apparatus 2 switches the display to mask display. (Furigana means kana (Japanese phonetic syllabary characters, such as furigana) written next to or above Chinese characters to show the pronunciation.) In FIG. 26, the area of the screen is divided into a total of 11 portions as described below.

-   -   An area 2901 is an area that does not accept handwritten input         (one portion).     -   An area 2902 is an area (four portions) in which the name is         input by handwriting (in FIG. 26, for example, the name “Ricoh         Hanako” written in Japanese kanji characters). Based on the         definition data 2907-2910 of FIG. 27, the area 2902 displays the         selectable candidates 530, which will be described later, and a         character string selected by the user from the selectable         candidates 530. The user-selected character string is mask         displayed after a certain period of time elapses. The character         string may be mask displayed as the handwritten data (without         character recognition). The handwritten input display control         unit 23 may not mask some characters (for example, the first and         the last characters) and may mask display the remaining         characters. The mask display may be “※” or “*” or a hatching         pattern or the like, instead of “●”. The number of “●” may or         may not match the number of characters. The mask display will         suffice as long as the contents of the area 2902 can be         concealed.     -   An area 2903 is an area (four portions) into which the furigana         is handwritten. It is assumed that in the area 2903, the user         inputs only hiragana (in FIG. 26, for example, the name “Ricoh         Hanako” written in Japanese hiragana characters). Based on the         definition data 2911-2914 of FIG. 27, the area 2903 does not         display the selectable candidates 530, and the hiragana with the         highest probability is forcibly displayed. The furigana in the         area 2903 may be automatically displayed based on the         recognition result of the hiragana input into the area 2902 by         the user.     -   An area 2904 is the area where gender is input by handwriting         (collectively one portion because this is not mask displayed).         In the area 2904, it is assumed that the user inputs only the         gender. Based on the definition data 2915 of FIG. 27, the area         2904 does not display the selectable candidates 530, but         forcibly displays the character having the higher probability,         between “male” and “female” (the kanji character corresponding         to either male or female).     -   An area 2905 is an area where the age is input by handwriting         (one portion, similar to gender). In the area 2905, it is         assumed that the user inputs only the age (a value). Based on         the definition data 2916 of FIG. 27, the area 2905 does not         display the selectable candidates 530, but forcibly displays the         value with the highest probability.

FIG. 27 illustrates definition data for each area. The difference from the definition data in FIG. 23 will be explained. Region, Depth, Recognition, Recognition, Recognition, RecognitionDic, ConversionDic, and PredictionDic have the same meanings as those in FIG. 23. MaskedDisplay indicates the area where the data input by handwriting is to be mask displayed by the display apparatus 2. In the definition data of FIG. 27, MaskedDisplay=“True” is defined in the area for handwriting the name of the definition data 2907-2910 and the area for handwriting the hiragana of the definition data 2911-2914. When MaskedDisplay=“True” is specified, the area becomes a mask display area and the character string is mask displayed.

The areas 2902 and 2903 in FIG. 26 are separated into four portions, respectively, so that the portions are individually mask displayed according to the operation status in each area.

Definition data 2906 indicates an area in which handwritten input is not processed due to Recognition=“Disable”.

Definition data 2907-2910 indicates an area where the most versatile handwritten input processing is performed due to Recognition=“Enable”. Definition data 2907-2910 defines an area of the name. In the dictionary file, a dictionary exclusively used for names (RecognitionDic=“Recognition name.dic”, “ConversionDic=“Conversion name.dic”, and PredictionDic=“predicate name.dic”) is specified, thereby allowing users to efficiently input names by handwriting.

Definition data 2911-2914 indicates an area which automatically displays the candidate with the highest probability of recognition, without the display apparatus 2 displaying the selectable candidate 530 that is a candidate based on a recognition result, due to Recognition=“Force”. That is, the user's task of selecting a character string from the selectable candidate 530 can be reduced. Definition data 2911-2914 defines the furigana area. In the dictionary file of the definition data 2911-2914, a dictionary exclusively used for hiragana (Recognition=“hiragana.dic”) is specified, thereby allowing users to efficiently input furigana by handwriting.

The definition data 2915 indicates an area in which the candidate with the highest probability of recognition is automatically selected, without the display apparatus 2 displaying the selectable candidate 530 that is a candidate based on a recognition result, due to Recognition=“Force”. The definition data 2915 defines the area of gender. In the dictionary file of the definition data 2915, a dictionary exclusively used for gender (RecognitionDic=“gender.dic”) is specified, thereby allowing users to efficiently input gender by handwriting in this area. That is, in a situation where the user needs to input information within a limited time, such as at a disaster site, the user can efficiently input the information.

The definition data 2916 indicates an area in which the candidate with the highest probability of recognition is automatically selected, without the display apparatus 2 displaying the selectable candidate 530 that is a candidate based on a recognition result, due to Recognition=“Force”. The definition data 2916 defines the area of age. In the dictionary file of the definition data 2916, a dictionary exclusively used for values (RecognitionDic=“number.dic”) is specified, thereby allowing users to efficiently input the age by handwriting in this area. That is, in a situation where the user needs to input information within a limited time, such as at a disaster site, the user can efficiently input the information.

As described above, in the display apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment, the user can make settings with respect to handwriting recognition control (control for performing character recognition on a handwritten stroke and performing character string conversion or prediction conversion), enabling or disabling selectable candidate display control (control for causing a user to select a candidate obtained as a result of handwriting recognition), and the type of dictionary related to handwriting recognition, for each area, depending on what kind of information is handwritten in the area. Thus, more efficient handwritten input and character string display are possible when the range of data to be input by handwriting is predetermined.

In FIG. 27, the Recognition=“Force” is set for furigana, gender, and age. However, if the range of data input by handwriting is predetermined, such as an address and a region name, the user can set the Recognition for the corresponding area to “Force”. For example, in the situation of a disaster, a part of the address input into the display apparatus 2 is often limited to a nearby address. In many cases, at a fire site, the building name or the company name is limited to the building and the tenant companies where the fire broke out. Further, in rural areas, a user may input the names of the fire departments involved in fire fighting activities, for different regions. In this case, the handwritten character string is often limited to the region name, the fire department name, etc. As described above, if a dictionary is prepared depending on the range of data to be input by handwriting, handwritten input and display of the character string can be efficiently performed.

The area may not be a rectangle. The area may be a polygon that is a triangle or a shape having more sides than a triangle, or may be a circle.

<Display Example of Selectable Candidates>

FIG. 28 is an example of an operation guide and a selectable candidate 530 displayed by the operation guide. The user handwrites the handwritten object 504 (due to the timeout of the selectable candidate display timer) so that the operation guide 500 is displayed. The operation guide 500 includes an operation header 520, an operation command candidate 510, a handwriting recognition character string candidate 506, a converted character string candidate 507, a character string/predictive conversion candidate 508, and a handwritten object rectangular area display 503. The selectable candidate 530 includes the operation command candidate 510, the handwriting recognition character string candidate 506, the character string/predictive conversion candidate 508. In this example, no language-wise converted character string is displayed. However, there is a case in which a language-wise converted character string is displayed. The selectable candidate 530, excluding the operation command candidate 510, is called the character string candidate 539.

The operation header 520 has buttons 501, 509, 502, and 505. The button 501 receives a switching operation between the predictive conversion and “kana conversion”. In an example of FIG. 28, when a user touches a button 509 indicating “predictive,” the handwritten input unit 21 receives the button and notifies the handwritten input display control unit 23 thereof, and the display unit 22 changes the display to the button 509 indicating “Kana”. After recognition of the handwritten object 504, character string candidates 539 are arranged in a probability descending order of “kana conversion”.

The button 502 operates the candidate display page. In an example of FIG. 28, the candidate display page has three pages, and currently, the first page is displayed. The button 505 receives “erase” of the operation guide 500. When the user touches the button 505, the handwritten input unit 21 receives the button and notifies the handwritten input display control unit 23 thereof, and the display unit 22 erases the display other than the handwritten object. The button 509 receives a collective display deletion. When the user touches the button 509, the handwritten input unit 21 receives the button. The handwritten input unit 21 notifies the handwritten input display control unit 23 thereof. The display unit 22 deletes all the displays illustrated in FIG. 28, including the handwritten object, allowing the user to rewrite handwriting from the beginning.

The handwritten object 504 is a letter Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” that is handwritten by the user. A handwritten object rectangular area display 503 surrounding the handwritten object 504 is displayed. The displaying procedure is hereinafter explained with reference to sequence diagrams of FIG. 45 to FIG. 53. In an example of FIG. 28, the handwritten object rectangular area display 503 is displayed in a dotted frame.

In each of the handwriting recognition character string candidate 506, the converted character string candidate 507, and the character string/predictive conversion candidate 508, character string candidates are arranged in probability descending order. The Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” of the handwriting recognition character string candidate 506 is a candidate of the recognition result. In this example, the display apparatus 2 correctly recognizes Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” (“gi”).

The converted character string candidate 507 is a converted character string candidate(s) converted from a language-wise character string candidate. In this example, Japanese characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning meeting minutes) and “giryoshi” (meaning an abbreviation of “technical mass production trial”), which is an abbreviation of Japanese characters reading “gizyutsu ryosan shisaku” (meaning “technical mass production trial”), are displayed. The character string/predictive conversion candidate 508 is a language-wise character string candidate or a predictive character string candidate converted from a converted character string candidate. In this example, Japanese characters reading “giryoshi wo kessai” (meaning “decision on technical mass production trial”) and Japanese characters reading “gijiroku no souhusaki” (meaning recipient of meeting minutes) (transmission destination of meeting minutes) are displayed.

Operation command candidates 510 are operation command candidates selected based on the operation command definition data items 701-703, 709-716 of FIG. 11A. In an example of FIG. 28, the initial letter of line “>>” 511 indicates an operation command candidate. In FIG. 28, with respect to the Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi”, which is the handwritten object 504, because there is no selected object, and the Japanese Kanji character reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”), which is a character string candidate of the Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi”, is partially matched with the operation command definition data items 701 and 702 illustrated in FIG. 11A, they are displayed as operation command candidates 510.

When the user selects Japanese characters reading “gijiroku template wo yomikomu” (meaning read meeting minutes template), the operation command defined by the operation command definition data item 701 is executed, and when the user selects Japanese characters reading “giziroku folder ni hozon suru” (meaning that “save in the minutes folder”), the operation command defined by the operation command definition data item 702 is executed. As described above, the operation command candidates are displayed when the operation command definition data items including the converted character string are found. Therefore, they are not always displayed.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the character string candidates and the operation command candidates are displayed at the same time (together), so that the user can select either the character string candidate or the operation command the user wishes to enter.

<Example of Specifying Selected Object>

In the display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible for a user to specify a selected object by selecting it by handwriting. The selected object is the object of editing or modification, or the page name.

FIGS. 29A to 29D are drawings for explaining examples for specifying selection objects. In FIGS. 29A to 29D, handwritten objects 11 a to 11 d are indicated by black solid lines, handwritten object rectangular areas 12 a to 12 d are indicated by gray color shadings, confirmation objects 13 a to 13 d are indicated by black lines, and selection object rectangular areas 14 a to 14 d are indicated by broken lines. The handwritten objects 11 a to 11 d may also be referred to as a handwritten object 11 when they are not distinguished from each other. In a similar manner, the handwritten object rectangular areas 12 a to 12 d, the confirmation objects 13 a to 13 d, and the selection object rectangular areas 14 a to 14 d may also be referred to as reference symbols without attaching a suffix of an alphabetical letter in the lower case (i.e., “12”, “13”, and “14”, respectively). Also, an extended line determination condition 406 or an enclosing line determination condition 407 of defined control data as illustrated in FIG. 7 is used as a determination condition (as to whether a predetermined relationship is satisfied) for determining a confirmation object as a selection object.

FIG. 29A is an example in which the user specifies two horizontally written confirmation objects 13 a, 13 b with an extended line (i.e., the handwritten object 11 a). In this example, a length H1 of a short side and a length W1 of a long side of the handwritten object rectangular area 12 a satisfy the condition of the extended line determination condition 406. In this example, the overlapping rate of the confirmation objects 13 a, 13 b satisfies the condition of the extended line determination condition 406. Therefore, the confirmation objects 13 a, 13 b of both of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”) are specified as selection objects.

FIG. 29B is an example in which the user specifies the horizontally written confirmation object 13 c with an enclosing line (i.e., the handwritten object 11 b). Only the confirmation object 13 c, i.e., Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”), of which the overlapping rate with the handwritten object rectangular area 12 c satisfies the condition of the enclosing line determination condition 407 is specified as a selection object.

FIG. 29C is an example in which the user specifies multiple vertically written confirmation objects 13 d, 13 e with an extended line (i.e., the handwritten object 11 c). In this example, similarly with FIG. 29A, a length H1 of a short side and a length W1 of a long side of the handwritten object rectangular area 12 d satisfy the condition of the extended line determination condition 406. Also, in this example, the overlapping rate of the two confirmation objects 13 d, 13 e, i.e., Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”), satisfies the condition of the extended line determination condition 406. Therefore, the confirmation objects 13 d, 13 e of both of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”) are specified as selection objects.

FIG. 29D is an example in which the user specifies the vertically written confirmation object 13 f with an enclosing line (i.e., the handwritten object 11 d). In this example, similarly with FIG. 29B, only the confirmation object 13 f of Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) is specified as a selection object.

<Display Example of Operation Command Candidates>

FIGS. 30A and 30B are drawings illustrating an example of display operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object as illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 30A is an operation command candidate related to editing, and FIG. 30B is an operation command candidate related to modification. Further, FIG. 30A illustrates an example in which a selected object is specified using the handwritten object 11 a of FIG. 29A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 30A and 30B, a main menu 550 includes operation command candidates that are displayed following the initial letter of line “>>” 511. The main menu 550 displays the last executed operation command name or the first operation command name in the operation command definition data. The first line's initial character “>>” 511 a indicates an operation command candidate related to editing (in the example of FIG. 30A, Japanese characters reading “shokyo” (meaning “delete”) is displayed), and the second line's initial character “>>” 511 b indicates an operation command candidate related to modification (in the example of FIG. 30A, Japanese characters reading “hutoku” (meaning “thick”) is displayed). The third line's initial letter “>>” 511 c indicates an operation command candidate of Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as a page name”).

“>” 512 at the end of the line indicates that there is a sub-menu (an example of a sub-menu button). In line 1, “>” 512 a causes a sub-menu (last selected) to be displayed as an operation command candidate related to editing. In line 2, “>” 512 b causes a remaining sub-menu to be displayed as operation command candidates related to modification. When the user touches “>”512, a sub-menu 560 appears to the right. The sub-menu 560 displays all the operation commands defined in the operation command definition data. In a display example of FIG. 30A, the sub-menu 560 corresponding to the first line “>”512 a is displayed when the main menu is displayed. The display apparatus 2 may display the sub-menu by touching “>” 512 a in the first line.

With respect to the operation command for page name setting in the third line, operation command candidates are not grouped, and thus, “>” is not displayed at the end of the line.

When the user touches any of the operation command names with a pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes the Command of the operation command definition data associated with the operation command name for the selected object. In other words, “Delete” is executed when Japanese characters reading “shokyo” (meaning “delete”) 521 is selected, “Move” is executed when Japanese characters reading “ido” (meaning “move”) 522 is selected, “Rotate” is executed when Japanese characters reading “kaiten” (meaning “rotate”) 523 is selected, and “Select” is executed when Japanese characters reading “sentaku” (meaning “select”) 524 is selected.

For example, if the user touches Japanese characters reading “syokyo” (meaning “delete”) 521 with a pen, Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”) can be erased. If the user touches Japanese characters reading “ido” (meaning “move”) 522, Japanese characters reading “kaiten” (meaning “rotate”) 523, and Japanese characters reading “sentaku” (meaning “select”) 524, a bounding box (circumscribed rectangle of the selected object) is displayed. When Japanese characters reading “ido” (meaning “move”) 522 or Japanese characters reading “kaiten” (meaning “rotate”) 523 is touched, the user can move or rotate the Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”) with a drag operation of a pen. When Japanese characters reading “sentaku” (meaning “select”) (select) 524 is touched, the user can perform other bounding box operations. When Japanese characters reading “sentaku” (meaning “select”) 524 is touched, the user can perform other bounding box operations.

Japanese Kanji character reading “ichi” (meaning “one”) 541, Japanese Kanji character reading “ichi” with Japanese comma (meaning “one,”) 542, Japanese character of wave dash (having a meaning similar to “-” (dash) in English) 543, and an arrow “→” 544, which are character string candidates other than the operation command candidates, are the recognition results of the extended line (the handwritten object 11 a). If the user intends to enter a character string instead of an operation command, a character string candidate can be selected.

In FIG. 30B, the sub-menu of FIG. 30B is displayed by touching the second line “>” 512 b. In a display example of FIG. 30B, the main menu 550 and the sub-menu 560 are displayed as in FIG. 30A. When Japanese characters reading “hutoku” (meaning “thick”) 531 is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes “Thick” on the selected object. When Japanese characters reading “hosoku” (meaning “thin”) 532 is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes “Thin” on the selected object. When Japanese characters reading “okiku” (meaning “large”) 533 is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes “Large” on the selected object. When Japanese characters reading “chisaku” (meaning “small”) 534 is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes “Small” on the selected object. When Japanese characters reading “kasen” (meaning “underline”) 535 is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes “Underline” on the selected object.

A fixed value is separately defined as to how much the thickness is increased when Japanese characters reading “hutoku” (meaning “thick”) 531 is selected. A fixed value is separately defined as to how much the thickness is decreased when Japanese characters reading “hosoku” (meaning “thin”) 532 is selected. A fixed value is separately defined as to how much the size is increased when Japanese characters reading “okiku” (meaning “large”) 533 is selected. A fixed value is separately defined as to how much the size is decreased when Japanese characters reading “chisaku” (meaning “small”) 534 is selected. A fixed value is separately defined as to with what type of underline characters are underlined when Japanese characters reading “kasen” (meaning “underline”) 535 is selected. Alternatively, when the sub-menu of FIG. 31B is selected, a selection menu is opened separately to allow the user to make adjustment.

When the user touches the Japanese characters reading “hutoku” (meaning “thick”) 531 with the pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 increases the thickness of lines constituting the confirmation objects 13 a, 13 b, i.e., Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”). When the user touches the Japanese characters reading “hosoku” (meaning “thin”) 532 with the pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 decreases the thickness of lines constituting the confirmation objects 13 a, 13 b, i.e., Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning “meeting minutes”) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giji” (which is a part of characters meaning “meeting minutes”). When the user touches the Japanese characters reading “okiku” (meaning “large”) 533 with the pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 can increase the size of a character string. When the user touches the Japanese characters reading “chisaku” (meaning “small”) 534 with the pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 can decrease the size of a character string. When the user touches Japanese characters reading “kasen” (meaning “underline”) 535 with the pen, the handwritten input display control unit 23 underlines a character string.

FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate an example of display of operation command candidates based on the operation command definition data in a case where there is a handwritten object as illustrated in FIG. 13 (the items written in Japanese characters in FIGS. 31A and 31B correspond to those in FIGS. 30A and 30B, respectively). In contrast to FIGS. 30A and 30B, FIGS. 31A and 31B illustrate examples in which a selection object is specified by the handwritten object 11 b (i.e., an extended line) of FIG. 29B. As can be understood by comparing FIGS. 31A and 31B with FIGS. 30A and 30B, the same operation command candidates are displayed no matter whether a handwritten object is an enclosing line or an extended line. When a selection object is specified, the handwritten input display control unit 23 displays operation command candidates on the display unit 22. Alternatively, the handwritten object may be recognized, and different operation command candidates may be displayed according to the recognized handwritten object. In this case, operation command definition data as illustrated in FIG. 13 is associated with the recognized handwritten object (e.g., Japanese Kanji character reading “ichi” (meaning “one”), a character “◯”, and the like).

In FIGS. 31A and 31B, a character “◯” 551, a character “∞” 552, a character “0” 553, and characters “00” 554, which are character string candidates other than the operation command candidates, are the recognition results of the extended line (the handwritten object lib). In a case where the user intends to input a character string instead of an operation command, the user can select a character string candidate.

<Example of Input of Angle Information>

Next, a method for entering angle information is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 32A to 32C. FIGS. 32A to 32C are examples of a drawing illustrating an input method of angle information. FIGS. 32A to 32C illustrate a case in which the user present in the 3 o'clock direction of the display apparatus 2 inputs the angle information. Because characters handwritten from the 3 o'clock direction are correctly recognized when they are rotated 90 degrees clockwise, it is preferable that 90 degrees angle information is entered.

FIG. 32A shows a state in which the operation guide 500 is displayed because a user present in the three o'clock direction of the display apparatus 2 handwrites Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” in a state in which the angle information of the pen ID control data is 0 degrees (initial value). Because the display apparatus 2 recognizes a character Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” that is handwritten from the 3 o'clock direction using angle information remaining at 0 degrees, a selectable candidate 530 that is different from the expectation is displayed. In FIG. 32A, the selectable candidates 530 indicate kanji characters reading “niji” (meaning rainbow), “hen” (meaning side), “soku” (meaning immediately), “gei” (meaning welcome), and “sou” (meaning send), from the top to bottom. The same applies to FIG. 32B.

When entering the angle information, the user handwrites a straight line from top to bottom as seen by the user in the operation guide 500. FIG. 32B illustrates an example of such a straight line 521. A counterclockwise angle α of the straight line 521, which is formed with reference to the 6 o'clock direction corresponding to the angle information of 0 degrees, is the angle information. In other words, a counterclockwise angle α, which is formed between the line 522 that is drawn from a starting point S downwards in the 6 o'clock direction, and the straight line 521 entered by the user, is the angle information. In a simple expression, the direction of the end point of the line 521 is the angular information. Therefore, the angle information entered by the user in FIG. 32B is 90 degrees.

It should be noted that, with respect to a method for detecting a straight line, for example, the coordinates from the starting point S to the end point E are converted into a straight line by the least squares method, and obtained correlation coefficient is compared with a threshold value to determine whether or not the straight line is used.

Immediately after the user starts writing the straight line 521 (immediately after the pen 2500 touches the starting point S of the straight line 521), the display apparatus 2 erases the operation guide 500. Immediately after the writing of the straight line 521 is completed (immediately after the pen 2500 is separated from the end point E of the straight line 521), the display apparatus 2 searches for the closest value of the above-described angle α from 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees, 180 degrees, 215 degrees, 270 degrees, 315 degrees, and 360 degrees, and determines the value as the angle information. The angle α itself may be the angle information. The determined angle information is set to “Angle of the pen ID control data. The pen event transmission unit 41 of the pen 2500 transmits the pen ID to the display apparatus 2 when the tip of the pen is touched for handwriting or the like. Therefore, the display apparatus 2 can associate the angle information with the pen ID control data.

It should be noted that it is only the operation guide 500 that is capable of allowing the user to handwrite a straight line to enter the angle information. Accordingly, when the user handwrites the straight line outside the operation guide 500, the straight line is recognized as English numeral “1” or Japanese Kanji character reading “ichi” (meaning “one”) or the like, and when the user handwrites the straight line inside the operation guide 500, the angle information can be entered. In other words, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 detects a straight line from a predetermined range and converts stroke data, which is handwritten outside the predetermined range, into text data.

FIG. 32C illustrates the operation guide 500 immediately after the operation of FIG. 32B. Because 90 degrees are set as the angle information (Angle) in the pen ID control data, the handwritten object (stroke data) is internally rotated in a clockwise direction by 90 degrees, handwriting recognition is performed for the rotated handwritten object, and the operation guide 500 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by 90 degrees to be displayed. It should be noted that the angle information may be entered manually by the user from a menu. In FIG. 32C, the items written in Japanese characters substantially correspond to those as described with reference to FIG. 28.

<Example of Registration of Handwritten Signature Data>

Next, an example of registration of handwritten signature data is explained with reference to FIGS. 33A to 33C. FIGS. 33A to 33C are drawings for explaining a registration method of handwritten signature data. First, FIG. 33A is a drawing illustrating an example of the selectable candidate 530 that is displayed in a case where the user handwrites Japanese Katakana characters reading “sign”. The selectable candidate 530 includes character string candidates which partially match the character string of Japanese characters reading “sign”, i.e., two operation commands 513, 514 including Japanese characters reading “tegaki touroku suru” (meaning “register handwritten signature”) and Japanese characters reading “tegaki sign out suru” (meaning “sign out by handwritten signature”), which are based on operation command definition data 713, 715; and Japanese characters reading “sign”, Japanese characters reading “sign kai” (meaning “autograph session”) and Japanese characters reading “sign iri” (meaning “signed”). The reason why two operation commands 513, 514 are displayed is because the String of the operation command definition data 713, 715 of FIGS. 11A and 11B includes the Japanese characters reading “sign”.

When the user touches Japanese characters reading “tegaki touroku suru” (meaning “register handwritten signature”) with the pen 2500, the handwritten signature registration form 561 of FIG. 33B is added to the handwritten input storage unit 25, and is displayed on the screen. For example, the operation guide 500 of FIG. 33A is erased, and the handwritten signature registration form 561 is displayed at the same location as the operation guide 500. The handwritten signature registration form 561 includes, from top to bottom, a name input field 561 a, signature input fields 561 b to 561 d, and a registration confirmation field 561 e. The user inputs the text of the name to the name input field 561 a, inputs the first handwritten signature, the second handwritten signature, and the third handwritten signature to the signature input fields 561 b to 561 d, respectively, and inputs a check mark or a cancellation mark to the registration confirmation field 561 e. In FIG. 33B, instructions written the Japanese characters are displayed, meaning “please write in your name by text here” in the name input field 561 a; “please write in your first signature here”, “please write in your second signature here”, and “please write in your third signature here” in the signature input fields 561 b to 561 d, respectively; and “please write in a check mark when registering or a cross mark when canceling” in the registration confirmation field 561 e. The text of the name is the display name of the user, and is converted into text data. The reason why the handwritten signature is input three times is because the feature quantity is registered based on the assumption that every time the user handwrites the signature, the signature is slightly different, and the signatures do not make a perfect match.

In general, the handwritten signature is constituted by characters related to the user, such as the user name and the like. Alternatively, other than the user name, the handwritten signature may be numerals such as an employee number, a nickname, a portrait, or the like. The handwritten signature is not limited to characters related to the user, and may be a certain handwritten object. For example, the handwritten signature may be a circle, a triangle, a rectangle, a symbol, or a combination thereof. In the handwritten signature, the coordinates are not the only feature data, and therefore, even if multiple users who have the same family name (for example, Mr. Suzuki, a typical Japanese family name) register handwritten signatures constituted by characters “Suzuki”, the users can be correctly authenticated.

When the user handwrites the signatures in the handwritten signature registration form 561 as instructed, the handwritten signature registration form 561 as illustrated in FIG. 33C is displayed. A name “Suzuki” written in Japanese kanji characters is displayed in the name input field 561 a, and the name “Suzuki” written in Japanese hiragana characters is displayed in the signature input fields 561 b to 561 d. When the user handwrites a “check mark” in the registration confirmation field 561 e, the handwritten signature data is registered to the handwritten signature data storage unit 39, and the handwritten signature registration form 561 is erased. Upon registration, a SignatureId is assigned, and a similarly assigned AccountId and the text of the name that is input to the name input field 561 a are associated with the SignatureId and stored in the user-defined data. When the user signs in by handwriting the user name and the like, the SignatureId associated with the AccountId in the user-defined data is obtained, and is associated with the pen ID of the pen 2500 used for the handwritten signature sign-in and registered in the pen ID control data. Thereafter, when the user uses the pen 2500, the pen ID is transmitted to the display apparatus 2, and the AccountId associated with the pen ID in the pen ID control data can be identified, so that the user can execute operation commands using the user-defined data without being aware of authentication.

When the user handwrites a mark “x” in the registration confirmation field 561 e, the handwritten signature registration is cancelled, and the handwritten signature registration form 561 is erased. In a case where a certain error occurs in the registration, a message to that effect is displayed in the system-reserved area and the like of the screen.

In this manner, the handwritten input display control unit 23 can receive handwritten input without distinguishing a handwritten input to the form and a handwritten input to an area outside of the form.

<Example of Sign-In by Handwriting>

Next, a method for a user to sign in after the handwritten signature data is registered is hereinafter explained with reference to FIG. 34. FIG. 34 is a drawing illustrating an example of an operation guide 500 displayed when a user handwrites Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” (a typical Japanese family name) which is the handwritten signature data registered by the user. Because Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” is registered in the operation command definition unit 33 as handwritten signature data, the Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” matches the handwritten signature data. Accordingly, an operation command 512 of “tegaki sign in suru” (meaning “sign in by a handwritten signature”) is displayed. In FIG. 34, the character string candidates 539 indicate Japanese characters reading “Suzuki” in kanji characters, kana characters, and kanji characters, and “Suzuki Ichiro” in kanji characters, from the top to bottom.

In addition, because the handwritten signature data is matched, SignatureId representing Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” (a typical Japanese family name) is identified, and the user-defined data with AccountId associated with the SignatureId is identified.

If the user selects the operation command 512, “tegaki sign in suru” (meaning “sign in by a handwritten signature”), the AccountId of the Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” is associated with the pen ID of the pen 2500 used by the user, and is added to the pen ID control data so that the user-defined data of the Japanese Hiragana characters reading “Suzuki” can be used when the operation command is used.

Registration of handwritten signature data using the handwritten signature registration form 561 of FIG. 34 is controlled as a part of ordinary handwritten input of characters and the like, and therefore, the handwritten signature registration form 561 is displayed on the same operation screen as the operation screen in which characters and the like are handwritten. A handwriting operation in the handwritten signature registration form 561 and a handwriting operation outside of the handwritten signature registration form 561 are not different from each other, and the user can finish inputting to the handwritten signature registration form 561 simply by handwriting in the areas (fields) sectioned by the borders of the handwritten signature registration form 561.

<Operation Example for Changing User-Defined Data>

Next, a method for changing user-defined data is explained with reference to FIGS. 35A and 35B. FIG. 35A is a drawing for explaining the method for changing user-defined data. FIG. 35A is a drawing illustrating an example of the operation guide 500 that is displayed when the user handwrites Japanese Hiragana character reading “se”. Because, in the operation command definition data 716 as illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, Japanese Kanji characters reading “settei” (meaning “setting”) is defined as a String, and a prediction character string for Japanese Hiragana character reading “se” includes Japanese Kanji characters reading “settei” (meaning “setting”), an operation command of Japanese characters reading “settei henkou suru” (meaning “change setting”) is displayed. In FIG. 35A, the character string candidates 539 indicate Japanese characters reading “se” in hiragana characters, “settei” (meaning setting) in kanji characters, “seitai” (meaning living body) in kanji characters, and “sentaku” (meaning select) in kanji characters, from the top to bottom.

When the user selects the Japanese characters reading “settei henkou suru” (meaning “change setting”) with the pen 2500 with which the user has signed in, the AccountId of the user associated with the pen ID of the pen 2500 in the pen ID control data is identified. Accordingly, the user-defined data of the signed-in user is identified, and the user-defined data change form 562 of FIG. 35B is added to the handwritten input storage unit 25, and is displayed on the screen. In the example of FIGS. 35A and 35B, the user-defined data change form 562 is generated according to the user-defined data 718 of FIG. 14. The user-defined data change form 562 includes a name field 562 a, a password field 562 b, a folder user name field 562 c, a folder password field 562 d, a folder file name field 562 e, and a registration or cancellation field 562 f.

When the user does not sign in by handwriting in advance, the display apparatus 2 cannot identify the AccountId of the user and results in an error, and accordingly, an error message is displayed in the system-reserved area and the like of the screen.

The user handwrites a password in the password field 562 b of the user-defined data change form 562 of FIG. 33B. The user handwrites a folder user name in the folder user name field 562 c. The user handwrites a folder password in the folder password field 562 d. The user handwrites a folder file name in the folder file name field 562 e. The user handwrites a “check mark” or a mark “x” in the registration or cancellation field 562 f. Accordingly, change of the user-defined data is executed, and the user-defined data change form 562 is erased.

Accordingly, the user handwrites stroke data for calling the user-defined data change form 562, so that the user-defined data change form 562 is displayed, and the user-defined data can be changed by the user. The handwritten input display control unit 23 receives handwritten input without distinguishing a handwritten input to the form and a handwritten input to an area outside of the form.

In the name field 562 a, AccountUsername of the user-defined data is automatically displayed (“Suzuki” in kanji characters is displayed). The user-defined data change form 562 can be used not only for change but also for registration. In a registration or cancellation field 562 f, Japanese characters reading “please input a check mark or a cross mark here” is displayed.

Change of user-defined data using the user-defined data change form 562 of FIGS. 33A and 33B is controlled as a part of ordinary handwritten input of characters and the like, and therefore, the user-defined data change form 562 is displayed on the same operation screen as the operation screen in which characters and the like are handwritten. A handwriting operation in the user-defined data change form 562 and a handwriting operation outside of the user-defined data change form 562 are not different from each other, and the user can finish inputting to the user-defined data change form 562 simply by handwriting in the area (fields) sectioned by the borders of the user-defined data change form 562.

<Display Example of Operation Menu>

Next, an operation menu having information related to data processing according to a display position is hereinafter explained with reference to FIGS. 36A and 36B. FIG. 36B illustrates an example in which the present embodiment is applied with the English language. The English writing in FIG. 36B correspond to the Japanese characters in FIG. 36A. FIGS. 36A and 36B are a plan view of a display apparatus 2 positioned (placed) flat. In FIGS. 36A and 36B, there are users 250 and 251 on the upper side and the lower side of the drawing, respectively. The two users can operate operation menus 301 and 302 simultaneously from the lower side and from the upper side. It is noted, however, that there is no problem if there is only one user. The display apparatus 2 displays the operation menus according to the operation button definition data items. The number of operation menus is the same as the number of expected users.

Each of the operation menus 301 and 302 has information related to data processing according to the display position of the operation menu. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the operation menus 301 and 302 have rotation angles corresponding to display positions of the operation menus. The designs of the operation menus 301 and 302 (appearance of icons) are the same, but the information related to the data processing corresponds to the display position of the operation menu.

Operation menus 301 and 302 include pen operation panels 2001 and 2008, respectively, with which the users perform pen type selection or pen operation. Operation menus 301 and 302 include page operation panels 2002 and 2009, respectively, with which the users perform page operation. Operation menus 301 and 302 have page navigation operation panels 2003 and 2010, respectively, with which the users operate a list display of file names or pages. Operation menus 301 and 302 include page navigations 2004 and 2011, respectively, for switching pages from the list display of file names or page names. For ease of use by the user, the operation menu 301 for the user on the lower side is positioned near the screen bottom (positioned along the lower edge of the display 220) and the operation menu 302 for the user on the upper side is positioned near the screen top (positioned along the upper edge of the display 220).

The operation menu 301 for the user on the upper side includes a pen operation panel 2001, a page operation panel 2002, a page navigation operation panel 2003 and a page navigation 2004. The page navigation 2004 extends, in a page navigation window area 2005, from top to bottom. The page navigation window area 2005 is sometimes simply referred to as a page navigation window.

Similarly, the operation menu 302 for the user on the upper side includes a pen operation panel 2008, a page operation panel 2009, a page navigation operation panel 2010, and a page navigation 2011. The page navigation 2011 extends, in a page navigation window area 2012, from top to bottom with respect to the view of the user on the upper side.

A handwritten object or a character string object is displayed near the center of the display 220. A handwritten object 2006 is written with a black pen (solid black) by the user on the lower side. A character string object 2007 is a recognized character string written with a black pen by the user on the lower side. A handwritten object 2013 is handwritten data written by the user on the upper side with a blue pen (solid white+black edge).

The pen operation panels 2001 and 2008, page operation panels 2002 and 2009, page navigation operation panels 2003 and 2010, and page navigations 2004 and 2011 are included in the operation menu 302, which has two applications for the lower user and the upper user. Icons (buttons), file names, and page names for the user on the upper side are displayed in a 180 degree rotated state. This rotation angle is set in advance to the operation button definition data (to be described later).

When the user touches any of the button areas of the operation menus 301 and 302, a file name or a page name of the page navigations 2004 and 2011 with a pen 2500, the display apparatus 2 stores the rotation angle, which is set in the operation button definition data, in the pen ID control data of the pen 2500. This rotation angle is information related to data processing.

<<Pen Operation Panel>>

FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of the pen operation panels 2001 and 2008. The pen operation panels 2001 and 2008 have buttons for the user to select colors, etc. Buttons 2101-2108 represent non-translucent black, red, blue, and green thin pens or thick pens, and buttons 2109 and 2110 represent translucent magenta and cyan thick pens.

Buttons 2111 and 2112 indicate undo/redo. Button 2113 represents page erasure, and button 2114 represents a page sweep (a button that cleans and redisplays a degraded screen in a high-speed drawing mode). Button 2115 receives display ON/OFF of the character string candidate 539 (a button for receiving the setting of the handwriting recognition candidate off state (RecommendMenuOff) of the pen ID control data).

As shown in the operation button definition data of FIGS. 40 to 43, each button defines a button identifier (ButtonId), a button display position (Position), an icon image (Icon) of the button, a rotation angle (Angle) of the button, and a command (Command) to be executed by the display apparatus 2 when the button is touched. When the user touches one of buttons 2101-2115 with the pen 2500, the display apparatus 2 saves the rotation angle defined in the button in the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 and executes the command defined in the button. It is noted that buttons 2101 to 2115 are assumed to correspond to ButtonId=1 to 15 of the operation button definition data in the order starting from the left.

The commands of the operation button definition data items 2401 to 2410, corresponding to buttons 2101 to 2110, specify ColorId of the color definition data in the same ChangePen command as the operation command definition data item 709 to 711 and 720 to 726 of FIGS. 11A and 11B. The display unit 22 displays a frame 260 surrounding the last selected button to indicate that the button is the last selected button. In FIG. 37, a black thin pen of button 2101 is selected.

Operation button definition data 2411 and 2412 corresponding to buttons 2111 and 2112 define Undo/Redo commands. The buttons 2111 and 2112 (undo/redo) each receive the execution of Undo/Redo commands. Undo is a command to return to the previous operation state, and Redo is a command to advance the operation state that is undone.

Operation button definition data 2413 corresponding to a button 2113 defines an ErasePage command. The button 2113 (page erase) receives the execution of the ErasePage command. ErasePage deletes all data that is currently entered on the page and redisplays the page.

Operation button definition data 2414 corresponding to a button 2114 defines a command of SweepPage. The button 2114 (Sweep Button) receives an execution of SweepPage command. In display apparatuses such as electronic paper, there is residual fade in the high-speed drawing mode. Display apparatuses clean it up by redisplay.

Operation button definition data 2415 corresponding to a button 2115 defines a command of ToggleRecommendMenu. The button 2115 (handwriting recognition candidate ON/OFF) receives an execution of the ToggleRecommendMenu command. ToggleRecommendMenu turns on and off the display of the character string candidate 539 obtained by handwriting recognition. As a result, the RecommendMenuOff=“True” is added to the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 used for touching when the state becomes OFF. When the display of the character string candidate 539 is ON, all of the character string candidates 539 are displayed, but when it is OFF, only the operation commands are displayed. Without the operation command, the entire selectable candidates will not be displayed, allowing users to focus on handwriting. When the display apparatus 2 executes the ToggleRecommendMenu, the icon is switched according to the current on-off state to return it.

It is noted that the buttons 2101 to 2110 define buttons different from the pen color selection buttons 81 to 86 of FIGS. 21A and 21B. Because the ColorId can be duplicatedly set by the pen color selection buttons 81 to 86, in this case, the touching result of the buttons 2101 to 2110 is set to the pen ID control data with higher priority.

<<Page Control Panel>>

FIG. 38 shows an example of page operation panels 2002 and 2009. The page operation panels 2002 and 2009 are operation menus related to page operations. A button 2201 is a button for the user to rotate the displayed page by 90 degrees. Buttons 2202 and 2204 are buttons for the user to switch to the previous page and to the next page, respectively. The current page 2203 represents the current page number (numerator) and the total number of pages (denominator). A button 2205 is a button for the user to open or close a page navigation window. A file name 2206 represents the currently displayed file name. Buttons 2201, 2202, 2203, and 2205 are defined in operation button definition data items 2416-2419, and 2440-2443.

A button 2201 (rotational display of the page) receives the execution of the RotatePage command. RotatePage displays the user on the lower side's handwritten object 2006 and character string object 2007, and only the user on the upper side's handwritten object 2013 in FIGS. 36A and 36B by rotating 90 degrees counterclockwise. The operation menu, including page navigation, does not rotate. That is, in an example of FIGS. 36A and 36B, the user on the upper side's handwritten object 2013 is difficult to read from the user on the lower side's viewpoint due to upside-down, so that the display apparatus 2 temporarily rotates the page to make it easier to read by executing the RotatePage command.

Buttons 2202 and 2204 (page switching) receive the execution of PageBack or PageNext command. PageBack or PageNext switches the current page to the previous page or to the next page.

A button 2205 (which opens or closes the page navigation window) receives the execution of the TogglePageNavi command. The TogglePageNavi command opens or closes the page navigation window areas 2005 and 2012 of FIGS. 36A and 36B.

The current page 2203 and the file name 2206 are display-only and do not receive operations. The current page 2203 displays the current page number (numerator) and the total number of pages (denominator). In this example, the display apparatus 2 displays the second page of a four-page file. A file name 2206 displays the currently displayed file name. In this example, the display apparatus 2 displays Japanese characters reading “gizyutsukentokaigi.pdf” (meaning that “technical review meeting.pdf”).

<<Page Navigation Operation Panel>>

FIG. 39 shows an example of a page navigation operation panel 2003 or 2010. The page navigation operation panel 2003 or 2010 displays the page names for each file in the order of the pages. That is, when a page name is selected from a character string object, it is easier for the user to later identify what is described on which page.

Buttons 2301 and 2305 are buttons for the user to switch to the previous page navigation window and to the next page navigation window, respectively. Buttons 2302 and 2304 are buttons for the user to switch to the previous file and to the next file, respectively (the first page of the switched file is displayed on the display 220). The current page navigation 2303 displays the current number (numerator) and the total number (denominator) of the page navigation window. Buttons 2301, 2302, 2304, and 2305 are defined in operation button definition data items 2420-2423, 2444-2447.

The page navigation 2306 displays character strings in file order and page order. The page navigation 2306 displays file names of a plurality of read files and page names in each file in a tree format. When a file name or a page name is touched, the display apparatus 2 displays the page on the display 220. For example, if the page navigation is 200 lines and the page navigation window is 50 lines, the current number of the current page 2203 can be a value of 1 to 4 and the total number is 4. When the user touches the button 2301, the display apparatus 2 decrements the current number, and when the button 2305 is touched, the current number is incremented to redisplay the page navigation window. The page navigation 2306 is arranged to be user friendly, with the user on the lower side positioned near the bottom of the display 220 and with the user on the upper side positioned near the top of the display 220.

In the page navigation 2306 of FIG. 39, two file names 2310 and 2308 (in this example, Japanese characters reading “teirei kaigi” (meaning regular meeting) and “gijutsu kentou kaigi” (meaning technical review meeting)) are displayed and pages 2307 and 2309 of each page are displayed in a tree-like manner for each file. In this example, the pages 2309 include Japanese characters reading “Oct. 2, 2019”, “Oct. 9, 2019”, “kettei jikou” (meaning determined items), and “hakushi page” (meaning blank page). Further, the pages 2307 include the Japanese characters reading “architecture”, “hardware kousei” (meaning hardware configuration), 3^(rd) page, and “hakushi page” (meaning blank page). A page name is a character string object specified by the user or an automatically extracted character string. The page name is indented by the user's operation.

Buttons 2301 and 2305 (page navigation window switching) receive the execution of the PageNaviWinBack/PageNaviWinNext command. PageNaviWinBack/PageNaviWinNext switches the current page navigation window to the previous or the next page navigation window. If the number of lines that can be displayed in the page navigation window is 50 lines, the display apparatus 2 can switch the page navigation window of 50 lines by touching the buttons 2301 and 2305.

Buttons 2302 and 2304 (file switching) accept the PageNaviFileBack/PageNaviFileNext command. PageNaviFileBack/PageNaviFileNext switches the currently displayed page to the first page of the previous file or the next file.

The page navigation 2306 is defined by the page navigation data of FIG. 44. The tree-opened icon 2311 indicates, with a downward triangle, that the tree is displayed. The tree-closed icon 2312 indicates, with a lateral triangle, that the tree is closed. When the tree is closed, the page names on the lower row of the tree are not displayed.

When Tree of the page navigation data is “Opened”, the display apparatus 2 displays the tree-opened icon 2311, and when it is touched, the display apparatus 2 changes the Tree to “Closed” and closes the tree. Conversely, when Tree=“Closed”, the display apparatus 2 displays the tree-closed icon 2312, and when the user touches it, the display apparatus 2 changes to Tree=“Opened”, and the tree is opened.

The page name 2313 indicates an indented page. The level of indentation is controlled by “Level” of the page navigation data. The initial value of Level for a file name is Level=“0” and the initial value of Level for a page name is Level=“1”. When a user performs indentation to the right by touching a file name or a page name, the value of the indentation level, “Level” is increased. The page name 2313 indicates indentation of Level=“2”. To change the Level, the user touches and holds the page name and move it left or right. For example, when a user moves to the right, the display apparatus 2 looks up the current row for the same level (the level before moving) and adds Tree=“Opened” to the upper row. The indented row can be hidden, and displaying and hiding of the indented row is controlled by the Tree of a row of the same level as the level of the row before it is indented. The display apparatus 2 increments the Level of the indented row, and redisplays the indented row.

The page name 2314 indicates a blank page and indicates the blank page next to the last page of the file (page name 2313). The blank page is a page on which nothing has been handwritten. Blank pages continue to exist to the maximum page number, but only the first blank page appears in the page navigation. For example, if the maximum page number is 100, and the file contains four pages, pages 5-100 are blank pages, but only the fifth page is displayed as a “blank page” in the page navigation 2306.

The page name 2315 is the page currently displayed on the display 220. Here, the page name 2315 is highlighted with a surrounding frame 262.

The page name 2316 is a default page name. When there is no character string recognized by handwriting recognition, the display apparatus 2 displays the page name with “nnnn page” (where nnnn is an integer). It is indicated that there is a character string recognized by handwriting recognition in the page names except for the page names of the default page name of the page name 2316, the blank page of the page name 2314, and the file names 2310 and 2308.

In the case of AutoName=“True” in the page navigation data described below, the display apparatus 2 automatically sets the page name if there is a character string recognized by handwriting recognition. In a screen layout example of FIGS. 36A and 36B, the character string of Japanese characters reading “hardware kosei” (meaning “hardware configuration”) is automatically set as a page name. The logic of determining the page name from a character string recognized by handwriting recognition can vary. For example, a method of connecting character strings together in order of input time and extracting a first fixed number of characters, or a method of determining the order of priorities of the character string position, combining character strings together in order of priorities, and extracting a first fixed number of characters.

As shown in an example of the display of the operation command in FIGS. 30A, 30B, 31A, and 31B, when a user selects a determined object that has already been recognized by handwriting recognition, using an enclosing line or an extended line, “Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as a page name”)” (set as a page name) is displayed in the operation command. When this is selected, the command of SetPageName is executed. SetPageName changes the current page name of the page navigation 2306 to the selected character string and changes the AutoName of the page navigation data to “False”.

“Angle” is also set to the pen ID control data when a file name or a page name of the page navigation operation panels 2003 and 2010 is selected with (using) the pen 2500. This Angle is an angle with which the page navigation window area is rotated. The display apparatus 2 stores a rotation angle (Angle) of the page navigation window area acquired from the operation button definition data for display and sets the stored rotation angle to “Angle” of the pen ID control data when a file name or a page name is selected by the pen 2500. Thereafter, the data processing is performed with the Angle set in the pen ID control data.

<Operation Button Definition Data>

FIGS. 40 to 43 show an example of the operation button definition data items 2401 to 2448. The operation button definition data items 2401-2448 define the buttons of: the pen operation panels 2001 and 2008; the page operation panels 2002 and 2009; and the page navigation operation panels 2003 and 2010. A row of operation button definition data defines a button. Further, FIGS. 40 and 41 define the operation menu 301 for the user on the lower side, and FIGS. 42 and 43 define the operation menu 302 for the user on the upper side.

Each of the operation button definition data items 2401 to 2448 defines a button identifier (ButtonId), a button display position (Position), a button icon image (Icon), an angle (Angle) for information related to data processing, and a command (Command) executed by the display apparatus 2 when the button is touched. The angle (Angle) also represents the user's operation position and the rotation angle of the operation menu 302. When the user touches one of the buttons 2101-2115, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2205, 2301, 2302, 2304, and 2305 with the pen 2500, the display apparatus 2 saves the angle defined in the button (Angle) in the pen ID control data of the pen and executes the command defined in the button.

As described above, the operation menu is associated with data processing according to the display position of the operation menu. In FIGS. 40 to 43, a character string object is rotated in accordance with a display position. Various data processing is possible if the administrator changes the command included in the same button of the operation menu 301 for the user on the lower side and the operation menu 302 for the user on the upper side.

Operation button definition data items 2401-2415 define the pen operation panel 2001 for the user on the lower side. Operation button definition data items 2416-2419 define the page operation panel 2002 for the user on the lower side. Operation button definition data items 2420-2424 define the page navigation operation panel 2003 for the user on the lower side. Operation button definition data items 2425-2439 define the pen operation panel 2008 for the user on the upper side. Operation button definition data items 2440-2443 define the page operation panel 2009 for the user on the upper side. Operation button definition data items 2444-2448 define the page navigation operation panel 2010 for the user on the upper side.

Because it is necessary for the operation button definition data items 2415 and 2439 to indicate the current ON/OFF state of the handwriting recognition candidates, an on icon image (IconOn) and an off icon image (IconOff) are defined. Because it is necessary for the operation button definition data items 2419 and 2443 to indicate buttons for opening and closing the page navigation window, an on icon image (Icon On) and an off icon image (Icon Off) are defined. The display apparatus 2 displays the on icon image or the off icon image according to the return value of the execution result of the Command.

The operation button definition data items 2424 and 2448 are the definition data of the page navigation window area, and only a position (Position) and an angle (Angle) of the rectangular area are defined. When the user touches these rectangular areas with the pen 2500, the display apparatus 2 stores the defined angle (Angle) in the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 used for touching the area.

<Page Navigation Data>

FIG. 44 shows an example of a page navigation data. The page navigation data is an example of information in which page names are recorded for each page of a file. The page navigation data defines the contents of the page navigation window areas 2005 and 2012. A line of the page navigation data defines a line of the page navigation. The page navigation data defines a file name (FileName), a page number (Page), an indent level (Level), a page name (PageName), an automatic name (AutoName), a tree state (Tree), and a current page (CurrentPage). Page=“0” and Level=“0” are for a file name. As the Level increases, the page name on the page navigation is indented to the right.

The default settings are PageName=“nnnn page” (where nnnn is the page number) or “blank page”, “AutoName=“True”, and Tree=“Opened”. When AutoName=“True”, the display apparatus 2 automatically sets a character string recognized by handwriting recognition to PageName. When “Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as a page name”)” (set as a page name) is selected from the operation command by the user after specifying the determined object recognized by handwriting recognition, the page name is changed to the determined object, and AutoName=“False”. In other words, the page name set by the user takes precedence. With respect to “Tree” setting, in a case of Tree=“Opened” in a certain line, all page names of lines below the certain line where the level is one level lower than the certain line are displayed in a tree format, and, in a case of Tree=“Closed”, the page names are not displayed. If the page name is displayed, the same process is repeated for the displayed page name. Therefore, when there is a level larger than the line in the next line, the display apparatus 2 sets Tree=“Opened” to the line. CurrentPage indicates the page currently displayed on the display 220.

In FIG. 44, in the page navigation data 2501 to 2506, the file name (FileName) is set as (FileName) Japanese characters reading “teirei kaigi” (meaning regular meeting). In the page navigation data 2507 to 2511, the file name (FileName) is set as (FileName) Japanese characters reading “gijutsu kentou kaigi” (meaning technical review meeting). In the page navigation data 2502, the page name (PageName) is set as “Oct. 2, 2019 (Wednesday)”. In the page navigation data 2503, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “second page”. In the page navigation data 2504, the page name (PageName) is set as “Oct. 9, 2019 (Wednesday)”. In the page navigation data 2505, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “kettei jikou” (meaning determined item). In the page navigation data 2506, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “hakushi page” (meaning blank page). In the page navigation data 2508, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “architecture”. In the page navigation data 2509, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “hardware kousei” (meaning hardware configuration). In the page navigation data 2510, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “third page”. In the page navigation data 2511, the page name (PageName) is set as Japanese characters reading “hakushi page” (meaning blank page).

<Operation Procedure>

Operations of the display apparatus 2 is hereinafter explained with reference to the above-described configurations and FIGS. 45 to 53. FIGS. 45 to 53 are sequence diagrams illustrating processes in which the display apparatus 2 displays character string candidates and operation command candidates. The processes illustrated in FIG. 45 start when the display apparatus 2 starts (when the application starts). It should be noted that, in FIGS. 45 to 53, the functions illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B are indicated by reference numerals for the sake of space convenience.

Also, with the pen coordinates on the screen, as explained with reference to the areas A to C in FIG. 24, whether handwriting recognition, selectable candidate display, stroke display, dialog control, or user interface operation is valid or invalid is defined for each set of pen coordinates. According to this definition, the control sequence is executed. In the present embodiment, the process relevant to the mask display timer control unit 40 is focused on.

Before the entry of handwritten data is started, the user has selected a button of the buttons 2101-2110 of the pen operation panels 2001 and 2008 (PenId has been identified). Therefore,

a. The pen button ID, ColorId, and Angle are identified by the operation button definition data. b. Pen ID control data includes PenId, ColorId, and Angle.

-   -   Step S1 is executed when the user interface operation is invalid         (the areas A, C).

S1: First, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the start of the handwritten object to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 allocates a handwritten object area (a memory area for storing handwritten objects). The handwritten object area may be allocated after a user touches the handwritten input unit 21 with a pen.

S2: Next, the user touches the handwritten input unit 21 with a pen. The handwritten input unit 21 detects the pen-down and transmits it to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

-   -   Steps S3 to S50 are executed when the user interface operation         is invalid (the areas A, C).

S3: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a stroke start to the handwritten input storage unit 25, and the handwritten input storage unit 25 allocates a stroke area.

S4: When the user moves the pen in contact with the handwritten input unit 21, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits pen coordinates to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S5: The handwritten input display control unit 23 specifies the pen ID received from the pen 2500 at the same time as a coordinate input, and acquires the current pen ID control data stored in the pen ID control data storage unit 36. Because the pen ID is transmitted at the time of the coordinate input, the stroke and the pen ID are associated with each other. The pen ID control data storage unit 36 transmits the pen ID control data to the handwritten input display control unit 23. It is noted that there is no AccountId because the user has not signed in.

-   -   Step S6 is executed in the case of the stroke display-enabled         state (ForceForDialog in the area A or the area C).

S6: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the pen coordinate complement display data (data interpolating discrete pen coordinates) to the display unit 22. The display unit 22 interpolates the pen coordinates with the pen coordinate complement display data, and identifies the line type and thickness from the color definition data based on the ColorId to display a stroke.

S7: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits pen coordinates, the reception time thereof, ColorId, and the angle information to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 adds the pen coordinates to the stroke. While the user is moving the pen, the handwritten input unit 21 repeats transmissions of the pen coordinates to the handwritten input display control unit 23 periodically. Processing of steps S4 to S7 is repeated until the pen-up.

S8: When the user releases the pen from the handwritten input unit 21, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits the pen-up to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S9: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the end of the stroke to the handwritten input storage unit 25, and the handwritten input storage unit 25 determines the pen coordinates of the stroke. After the determination of the pen coordinates of the stroke, the pen coordinates cannot be added to the stroke.

S10: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits, to the handwritten input storage unit 25, an acquisition request for an overlap status between the handwritten object rectangular area and the stroke rectangular area based on the handwritten object rectangular area 403. The handwritten input storage unit 25 calculates the overlap status, and transmits the overlap status to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

Subsequent steps S11 to S17 are performed when the handwritten object rectangular area and the stroke rectangular area are not overlapped with each other.

S11: When the handwritten object rectangular area and the stroke rectangular area are not overlapped with each other, one handwritten object is determined. Therefore, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a retained data clear to the handwriting recognition control unit 26.

S12 to S14: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the retained data clear to the character string conversion control unit 28, the predictive conversion control unit 30, and the operation command recognition control unit 32, respectively. The handwriting recognition control unit 26, the character string conversion control unit 28, the predictive conversion control unit 30, and the operation command recognition control unit 32 clear the data pertaining to the character string candidates and the operation command candidates that have been retained. It should be noted that, at the time of clearing, the last handwritten stroke is not added to the handwritten object.

S15: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the completion of the handwritten object to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 determines the handwritten object. The determination of a handwritten object means that one handwritten object has been completed (no more strokes are added).

S16: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a start of a handwritten object to the handwritten input storage unit 25. In preparation for the handwriting start (pen-down) of the next handwritten object, the handwritten input storage unit 25 allocates a new handwritten object area.

S17: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a stroke addition with respect to the stroke completed in step S9 to the handwritten input storage unit 25. When steps S11 to S17 are executed, the additional stroke is the first stroke of the handwritten object, and the handwritten input storage unit 25 adds the stroke data to the handwritten object being started. If steps S11-S17 have not been performed, the additional strokes are added to the handwritten objects that has been being handwritten.

S18: Subsequently, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the stroke addition to the handwriting recognition control unit 26. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 adds the stroke data to a stroke data retaining area (an area in which stroke data is temporarily stored) in which character string candidates are stored.

S19: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs gesture handwriting recognition on the stroke data retaining area. The gesture handwriting recognition refers to recognition of angle information from a straight line. It should be noted that, because the gesture handwriting recognition is performed inside the operation guide 500, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 detects a straight line inside the operation guide 500. The position information of the operation guide 500 is transmitted to the handwriting recognition control unit 26 in step S67, which is hereinafter explained later.

S20: When a straight line in the operation guide 500 is detected, a counterclockwise angle α, which is formed between the line 522, which is drawn from a starting point of the straight line downwards to the 6 o'clock direction, and the straight line 521, which is entered by the user, is determined in units of 45 degrees. Further, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 stores the determined angle information in the pen ID control data storage unit 36 by associating the determined angle information with the pen ID included in the stroke data of the straight line 521. It should be noted that step S20 is performed when a straight line is detected in the operation guide 500. Thus, a different Angle can be set over the Angle determined by the touching of the buttons 2101-2115 of the pen operation panels 2001, 2008.

S20-2: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 clears a selectable candidate display rectangle.

S21: Next, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 specifies the pen ID received from the handwritten input unit 21 and acquires the angle information of the current pen ID control data from the pen ID control data storage unit 36.

S22: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 rotates, in a clockwise direction with the acquired angle information, the stroke data in the stroke data retaining area. As described above, the display apparatus 2 can rotate the stroke data in accordance with the information related to the data processing according to the display position, and perform character recognition.

S23: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the stroke data after rotation to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. As described above, the stroke data is always transmitted to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 under the condition in which it is unclear whether or not the stroke data is a handwritten signature.

S24: The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 receives the stroke data and receives the registered handwritten signature data from the handwritten signature data storage unit 39. Further, the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 compares the stroke data with the handwritten signature data (matching) and retains the handwritten signature authentication result so as to obtain the authentication result of the handwritten signature in step S61 in the later stage. When authentication is successful, AccountId is registered in the pen ID control data.

S25: Next, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs handwriting recognition on the stroke data, and performs processing of the form when the registration or cancellation field of the form is “check mark” or “x”, and, otherwise, performs processing of the normal handwriting recognition.

S26: When the registration or cancellation field of the handwritten signature data registration form is a “check mark,” the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwritten signature data (the stroke data) input by the user for the handwritten signature registration form to the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. The handwritten signature registration form is generated in the handwritten input storage unit 25 by the handwritten input display control unit 23 in step S100, which is hereinafter explained later.

S27: The handwritten signature authentication control unit 38 registers the received handwritten signature data (stroke data) in the handwritten signature data storage unit 39. According to the above, a number is given to SignatureId. The SignatureId is returned to the handwriting recognition control unit 26. When the SignatureId and the name entered in the name input field 561 a of the handwritten signature registration form 561 are not included in the user-defined data, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 newly adds the user-defined data. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 assigns a number for AccountId and stores SignatureId in the user-defined data. If the name entered in the name input field 561 a is included in the user-defined data, the SignatureId is saved in the user-defined data. This process associates AccountId with SignatureId. When user-defined data is newly added, other values are not set, but the user can register and change the values from the user-defined data change form 562.

S28: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 deletes the handwritten signature registration form 561 form from the handwritten input storage unit 25 upon registration of the handwritten signature data.

S29: When the registration or cancellation field of the user-defined data change form is “check mark”, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the change values, which are input to the user-defined data change form 562, to the operation command definition unit 33. The user-defined data change form 562 is generated by the handwritten input display control unit 23 in the handwritten input storage unit 25 in step S100, which is hereinafter explained later.

S30: Upon execution of the user-defined data change, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 deletes the user-defined data change form 562 from the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S31: When the registration or cancellation field of the form added in step S100, which is hereinafter explained later, is a mark “x”, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 deletes the form added in step S100 from the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S33: When it is not the form processing, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates, which is handwritten by the user, to the handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27. The handwriting recognition dictionary unit 27 transmits language-wise character string candidates, which are linguistically assumed to be correct, to the handwriting recognition control unit 26.

It is noted that when “RecommendMenuOff=“True” is set in the pen ID control data at present and the operation command is set not to be displayed, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 does not perform the control related to the recognition of steps S33 to S47. In this way, the display apparatus 2 can reduce the processing load.

S34: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidate and the received language-wise character string candidates to the character string conversion control unit 28.

S35: The character string conversion control unit 28 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates and the language-wise character string candidates to the character string conversion dictionary unit 29. The character string conversion dictionary unit 29 transmits the converted character string candidates to the character string conversion control unit 28.

S36: The character string conversion control unit 28 transmits the received converted character string candidates to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

S37: The predictive conversion control unit 30 transmits the received converted character string candidates to the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31. The predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 transmits the predictive character string candidates to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

S38: The predictive conversion control unit 30 transmits the received predictive character string candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S39: The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the received predictive character string candidates to the operation command definition unit 33. The operation command definition unit 33 transmits the operation command candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32. Accordingly, it is possible for the operation command recognition control unit 32 to acquire the operation command candidates corresponding to the operation command definition data having a character string (String) matching the predictive string candidates.

Thereafter, the display apparatus 2 performs processing in the similar manner until the transmission of the operation command candidates indicated in steps S40 to S47. S40: The character string conversion control unit 28 transmits the received converted character string candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S41: The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the received converted character string candidates to the operation command definition unit 33. The operation command definition unit 33 transmits the operation command candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32. Accordingly, it is possible for the operation command recognition control unit 32 to acquire the operation command candidates corresponding to the operation command definition data having a character string (String) matching the converted character string candidates.

S42: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates and the language-wise character string candidates to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

S43: The predictive conversion control unit 30 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates and the received language-wise character string candidates to the predictive conversion dictionary unit 31. The predictive conversion dictionary unit 31 transmits the predictive character string candidates to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

S44: The predictive conversion control unit 30 transmits the received predictive character string candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S45: The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the received predictive character string candidates to the operation command definition unit 33. The operation command definition unit 33 transmits the operation command candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32. Accordingly, it is possible for the operation command recognition control unit 32 to acquire the operation command candidates corresponding to the operation command definition data having a character string (String) matching the predictive string candidates.

S46: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates and the received language-wise character string candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S47: The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the handwriting recognition character string candidates and the received language-wise character string candidates to the operation command definition unit 33. The operation command definition unit 33 transmits the operation command candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32. Accordingly, it is possible for the operation command recognition control unit 32 to acquire the operation command candidates corresponding to the operation command definition data having a character string (String) matching the language-wise character string candidates.

S48: Next, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the stroke addition to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S49: The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits a request for position information of the determined object to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the position information of the determined object to the operation command recognition control unit 32.

S50: The operation command recognition control unit 32 determines a selected object. The operation command recognition control unit 32 determines whether or not the position information of the stroke, which is received from the handwriting recognition control unit 26 in the stroke addition of step S48, is in a predetermined relationship with the position information of the determined object, which is received from the handwritten input storage unit 25, based on the extended line determination condition 406 and the enclosing line determination condition 407. When there is a determined object that can be determined to be selected, the operation command recognition control unit 32 stores the determined object as a selected object. Further, in this case, because the selected object is identified, the operation command candidates when the selected object is present is acquired from the operation command definition unit 33.

In addition, the handwriting recognition control unit 26, the character string conversion control unit 28, the predictive conversion control unit 30, and the operation command recognition control unit 32 retain the handwriting recognition character string candidate, the language-wise character string candidate, the converted character string candidate, the predictive character string candidate, the operation command candidate, and the data related to the selected object, so that the data can be acquired in steps S55 to S58 of the subsequent stage.

S18-2: Right after transmitting the stroke addition to the handwriting recognition control unit 26 in step S18, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the start of the selectable candidate display timer to the candidate display timer control unit 24. The candidate display timer control unit 24 starts the timer.

The subsequent steps S51-S53 are performed when a pen-down occurs before a certain period of time elapses (before the timer expires).

-   -   Step S51 and subsequent steps, explained below, are executed         when the user interface operation in valid (the areas A, C).

S51: When the user contacts the handwritten input unit 21 with a pen before the timer expires, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits a pen-down (the same event as in step S2) to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S52: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a stroke start (the same as in step S3) to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The subsequent sequence is the same as in step S3 and thereafter.

S53: Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the selectable candidate display timer stop to the candidate display timer control unit 24. The candidate display timer control unit 24 stops the timer. This is because a pen-down was detected, and the timer is not necessary.

Steps S54-S117 are performed when there is no pen-down (before the timer times out) before a certain period of time has elapsed. Accordingly, the operation guide 500 illustrated in FIG. 28 is displayed.

S54: The candidate display timer control unit 24 transmits a timeout to the handwritten input display control unit 23 when the user does not contact the handwritten input unit 21 with a pen while the selectable candidate display timer is running.

S55: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition of the handwriting recognition character string/language-wise character string candidates to the handwriting recognition control unit 26. The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the currently retained handwriting recognition character string/language-wise character string candidates to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S56: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition of the converted character string candidates to the character string conversion control unit 28. The character string conversion control unit 28 transmits the currently retained converted character string candidates to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S57: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition of the predictive character string candidates to the predictive conversion control unit 30. The predictive conversion control unit 30 transmits the currently retained predictive character string candidates to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S58: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition of the operation command candidates to the operation command recognition control unit 32. The operation command recognition control unit 32 transmits the currently retained operation command candidates and the selected object to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S59: Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition of an estimated character-writing direction to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 determines the estimated character-writing direction from the stroke addition time, the horizontal distance, and the vertical distance of handwritten object rectangular area, and transmits the estimated writing direction to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S60: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 specifies the pen ID received from the handwritten input unit 21 and acquires ColorId and AccountId (may not be present) of the current pen ID control data from the pen ID control data storage unit 36.

S61: The handwritten input display control unit 23 acquires the authentication result of the handwritten signature from the handwritten signature authentication control unit 38. Accordingly, SignatureId of the user is acquired, and, when the operation command described below is executed, the pen ID control data is registered and associated with AccountId. When the user signs in, the color definition data, which is associated with the user-defined data identified by AccountId, is identified. The handwritten input display control unit 23 can display: the handwritten data in which the color information of the user-defined data is highlighted in black and white; or the text data converted from the handwritten data.

-   -   Steps S62, S63, S64 are executed in the case of the selectable         candidate display-enabled state (the area A).

S62: The handwritten input display control unit 23 determines whether or not “RecommendMenuOff=“True” is set to the pen ID control data of the pen 2500 used by the user. When “RecommendMenuOff=“True” is set, the character string candidate 539 is not displayed. In this case, only the operation commands are displayed, but even it is not necessary that the operation commands is displayed. In the case of “Recommended MenuOff=“False”, the handwritten input display control unit 23 produces the selectable candidate display data as shown in FIG. 28 from: the handwriting recognition character string candidates (Japanese Hiragana character reading “gi” in FIG. 28); the language-wise character string candidates (e.g., Japanese Kanji character reading “gi” (that is a character having a meaning of conference) not displayed in FIG. 28); the converted character string candidates (Japanese Kanji characters reading “gijiroku” (meaning meeting minutes) and Japanese Kanji characters reading “giryoshi” (meaning “skill test”) in FIG. 28); the predictive character string candidates (Japanese characters reading “giryoshi wo kessai” (meaning “decision on technical mass production trial”) and Japanese characters reading “gijiroku no souhusaki” (meaning recipient of meeting minutes) in FIG. 28); the operation command candidates (Japanese characters reading “gijiroku template wo yomikomu” (meaning read meeting minutes template) and “giziroku folder ni hozon suru” meaning that “save in the minutes folder” in FIG. 26); each selection probability; and the estimation writing character direction.

Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 rotates counterclockwise the selectable candidate display data (the operation guide 500) based on the Angle acquired in step S60, and transmits the rotated selectable candidate display data (the operation guide 500) to the display unit 22 to be displayed.

S63: Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 rotates counterclockwise the rectangular area display data (a rectangular frame) (a handwritten object rectangular area display 503 in FIG. 28) of the handwritten object and the selected object with the angle information acquired in step S60 and transmits the rotated data to the display unit 22 to be displayed.

S64: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the start of the selectable candidate display deletion timer to the candidate display timer control unit 24 in order to erase the selectable candidate display data after a certain time from the display. The candidate display timer control unit 24 starts the timer. If the operation guide 500 including the operation command is not displayed because “RecommendMenuOff=“True”, the selectable candidate display and erase timer is not started.

-   -   A determination is made as to whether a candidate is selected in         the selectable candidate display-enabled state (the area A) and         within a certain period of time.

Steps S65 to S70 are performed when, while the selectable candidate deletion timer is running, the user erases the selectable candidate display that is displayed on the display unit 22, or when a change occurs in the handwritten object (that is, when a stroke of the handwritten object is added, deleted, moved, deformed or divided), or when a candidate is not selected before the timeout.

Further, steps S65-S67 are performed when the candidate display is deleted or a change in the handwritten object occurs.

S65: The handwritten input unit 21 transmits the selectable candidate display deletion or the occurrence of the change of the handwritten object to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S66: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a selectable candidate delete timer stop. The candidate display timer control unit 24 stops the timer. This is because the timer is not required because the handwritten object is operated within a certain period of time.

S67: The handwritten input display control unit 23 stores the position information of the operation guide 500 in the handwriting recognition control unit 26 so that the position information can be used in gesture determination of the gesture handwriting recognition of step S19. The positional information may be, for example, the coordinates of the upper left corner and the lower right corner or their equivalent coordinates. According to the above, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 can determine whether the straight line used for inputting the angle information is within the operation guide 500.

S69: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the deletion of the selectable candidate display data to the display unit 22 to erase the display. If

“RecommendMenuOff=“True”, only the operation command is erased or it is not necessary to erase anything.

S70: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the deletion of the rectangular area display data of the handwritten object and the selected object to the display unit 22 to erase the display. Therefore, if the display of the operation command candidate is deleted under conditions other than the selection of the operation command candidate, the display of the handwritten object is maintained.

S68: On the other hand, when no selectable candidate display deletion occurs or no handwritten object change occurs while the selectable candidate deletion timer is running (when the user did not perform the pen operation), the candidate display timer control unit 24 transmits the timeout to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

Similarly, after the timeout of the selectable candidate display deletion timer, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes step S69 and step S70. This is because the display unit 22 may delete the selectable candidate display data and the rectangular area display data of the handwritten object and the selected object after a certain period of time.

-   -   When the user selects a selectable candidate in the selectable         candidate display-disabled state (the areas B, C) while the         selectable candidate erase timer is running, steps S71-S117 are         executed. In the case of the selectable candidate         display-disabled state, the handwriting recognition control unit         26 displays a candidate with the highest probability.

S71: When the user selects the selectable candidate while the selectable candidate erase timer is running, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits the candidate selection of the character string candidates or the operation command to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S71-2: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a stop of the selectable candidate display delete timer to the candidate display timer control unit 24. The candidate display timer control unit 24 stops the timer.

S72: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the retained data clear to the handwriting recognition control unit 26.

S73: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the retained data clear to the character string conversion control unit 28.

S74: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the retained data clear to the predictive conversion control unit 30.

S75: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the retained data clear to the operation command recognition control unit 32. The handwriting recognition control unit 26, the character string conversion control unit 28, the predictive conversion control unit 30, and the operation command recognition control unit 32 clear the data pertaining to the character string candidates and the operation command candidates that have been retained.

-   -   Steps S76, S77 are executed in the case of the selectable         candidate display-enabled state (the area A).

S76: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the deletion of the selectable candidate display data to the display unit 22 to erase the display.

S77: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the deletion of the rectangular area display data of the handwritten object and the selected object to the display unit 22 to erase the display.

-   -   Step S78 is executed in the case of the stroke display-enabled         state (ForceForDialog in the area A or the area C).

S78: The handwritten input display control unit 23 erases the display by transmitting the delete of the handwritten object display data and the delete of the pen coordinate complement display data, which is transmitted in step S6, to the display unit 22. This is because a character string candidate or an operation command candidate has been selected and the handwritten objects, etc., are not needed any more.

S79: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the handwritten object deletion to the handwritten input storage unit 25.

When a character string candidate is selected, steps S80-S82 are executed.

-   -   Steps S80 to S82 are executed when in the selectable candidate         display-disabled state (the areas B, C) or when a character         string candidate is selected.

S80: In the case where the dialog control is invalid (the areas A, B), step S80 is executed. The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a character string object addition to the handwritten input storage unit 25. In other words, even though a selectable candidate is not displayed (even though the user does not make selection), the character string object is forcibly added.

S81: Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the character string object font acquisition to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 identifies a font name, of the character string object, associated with the PenId of the pen ID control data from the pen color selection button definition data, and transmits the estimated character size of the handwritten object to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S82: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the character string object display data, which is displayed at the same position as the handwritten object, to the display unit 22 using the defined font received from the handwritten input storage unit 25, to display the character string object display data. The handwritten input display control unit 23 identifies the line type and the thickness from the color definition data based on the Color Id of the pen ID control data, and displays the text (character string object) that is rotated with the angle information. Accordingly, the display apparatus 2 can display a character string object in the vertical direction from the viewpoint of the user's operation position. In a case where the handwritten input area is the area C of FIG. 24, the display apparatus 2 displays the character string object at the position and with the font specified by the dialog control (at the predetermined position and with the predetermined font). In FIGS. 22A and 22B, it is the mask display 2704 or the recognition result 2709 of the handwritten data.

When a character string object is displayed in the mask display area, steps S83 to S94 are executed. Steps S83 to S94 are looped for each mask display area.

S83: A character string object is displayed in the mask display area, and, therefore, the handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the mask display timer control unit 40 to start the mask display timer. The mask display timer (1) 408 is used immediately after the character string object is displayed.

S84: When the user performs pen-down to the mask display area, the handwritten input unit 21 detects the pen-down event. The handwritten input unit 21 transmits a report that pen-down has been performed to the mask display area, to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S85: The handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the mask display timer control unit 40 to start (restart) the mask display timer. Accordingly, the mask display timer (1) 408 is reset.

S86: When the mask display timer (1) 408 times out, the mask display timer control unit 40 transmits the time out to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S87: In order to perform mask display, the handwritten input display control unit 23 makes a deletion request to the display unit 22 to erase the character string object display data.

S88: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the mask display data (for example, ● corresponding to the number of characters) for the character string object, to the display unit 22.

S89: If the user wants to redisplay the character string object in the mask display area, the user inputs a gesture to the mask display area. The handwritten input unit 21 detects a pen-down event. The handwritten input unit 21 transmits a report that pen-down has been performed to the mask display area, to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S90: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the gesture recognition request to the handwriting recognition control unit 26.

S91: The handwriting recognition control unit 26 transmits the gesture recognition result, as to whether the gesture is determined to be tapping or the like, to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

If the gesture recognition result is a mask display cancellation gesture to cancel the mask display of the character string object, steps S92 to S94 are executed.

S92: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a deletion instruction to erase the mask display data of the character string object to the display unit 22.

S93: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the character string object display data to the display unit 22. The display unit 22 displays the character string object in the mask display area.

S94: The character string object is redisplayed in the mask display area, and, therefore, the handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the mask display timer control unit 40 to start the mask display timer. The mask display timer (2) 409 is used immediately after the character string object is redisplayed.

The cancelling of the mask display may only be allowed to the user who had input the character string. As illustrated in FIG. 16, handwritten data includes a PenID. The handwritten input display control unit 23 allows cancellation of the mask display only when the PenID of the pen 2500 used for tapping matches the PenID of the handwritten data that is mask displayed. This prevents any user from cancelling the mask display. Alternatively, the Pen ID and the Account ID may be associated with each other in the pen ID control data of FIG. 17, and the cancelling of the mask display may be allowed if the user definition data of FIG. 14 identified by the Account ID includes the authority to cancel the mask display.

When an operation command candidate is selected, steps S95 through S115 are executed. Operation commands for a selected object for editing or modification are executed in steps S95-S97.

S95: When an operation command candidate for the selected object is selected (when the selected object exists), the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the deletion of the selected object display data to the display unit 22 to erase the display. This is for deleting the originally selected object.

S96: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the operation command execution for the selected object to the handwritten input storage unit 25. The handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits display data (display data after editing or modification) of a newly selected object to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S97: Next, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the selected object display data to the display unit 22 so that the selected object after execution of the operation command is displayed again.

Steps S98 to S99 are executed when there is a selection object and the operation command candidate of Japanese characters reading “page mei wo tsuika” (meaning “add a page name”) is selected.

S98: When the operation command candidate of Japanese characters reading “page mei wo tsuika” (meaning “add a page name”) is selected (when a selected object exists), the handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the handwritten input storage unit 25 to acquire the selected object. The handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the selected object to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S99: The handwritten input display control unit 23 checks the page number currently being displayed on the display 220 in the page navigation data and adds the selected object as a page name to the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S100: When Japanese characters reading “tegaki touroku suru” (meaning “register handwritten signature”) of the operation command definition data 713 or Japanese characters reading “settei henkou suru” (meaning “change setting”) of the operation command definition data 716 is specified, the handwritten input display control unit 23 adds the handwritten signature registration form 561 or the user-defined data change form to the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S101: When the operation command candidate of Japanese characters reading “file hozon” (meaning “save file”) or Japanese characters reading “insatsu suru” (meaning “print”) is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a file transmission request to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37.

S102: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 transmits an acquisition request for the handwritten input storage data to be transmitted to the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S103: The handwritten input storage unit 25 determines whether the transmission destination is a color supporting apparatus according to the MIB or the like.

-   -   In the case where the transmission destination is a color         supporting apparatus, the handwritten input storage unit 25         transmits the handwritten input storage data converted into         color to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37. In         other words, the handwritten input storage unit 25 determines         whether the handwritten input storage data is originated from         handwriting (handwriting-originated data) on the basis of         ColorId of the handwritten input storage data. In the case where         the handwritten input storage data is handwriting-originated         data, the handwritten input storage unit 25 converts the         handwritten input storage data into the color information by         obtaining color information associated with the ColorId from the         color definition data. Since non-handwriting-originated data         originally includes color information, the handwritten input         storage unit 25 transmits the included color information without         performing conversion. Without using ColorId, a determination         may be made in any manner as long as it can be determined         whether the handwritten input storage data is         handwriting-originated data (handwritten data drawn with the         display apparatus 2). Also, a determination may be made on the         basis of a value indicating a device whether the handwritten         input storage data is handwritten data drawn with the display         apparatus 2.     -   A case where the transmission destination is a black-and-white         supporting apparatus is explained. In the case where the         handwritten input storage data is handwriting-originated data,         the handwritten input storage unit 25 may disregard color         information associated with ColorId of the handwritten input         storage data, and simply transmit a coordinate point sequence or         a text. The handwritten input storage unit 25 may convert the         handwritten input storage data into the color information by         obtaining color information associated with ColorId from the         color definition data. However, the handwritten input storage         unit 25 may convert the handwritten input storage data into         black-and-white highlighting display (with respect to the line         type and thickness) by obtaining color information associated         with ColorId from the color definition data, and transmit the         converted handwritten input storage data. Since         non-handwriting-originated data originally includes color         information, the handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the         included color information without performing conversion.     -   In the case where the transmission destination is a         black-and-white highlighting supporting apparatus, the         handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits only the handwritten         input storage data or the handwritten input storage data and the         color definition data to the file transmission-and-reception         control unit 37. In a case where the handwritten input storage         unit 25 transmits only the handwritten input storage data, the         line type and thickness are determined according to the color         definition data retained in the black-and-white highlighting         supporting apparatus of the transmission destination. In a case         where the handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits both of         the handwritten input storage data and the color definition         data, the line type and thickness are determined according to         the color definition data retained in the black-and-white         highlighting supporting apparatus of the transmission source.         Alternatively, the black-and-white highlighting supporting         apparatus of the transmission source may convert the handwritten         input storage data into black-and-white highlighting display,         and transmit the converted handwritten input storage data.—In a         case where the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37         writes, for example, a PDF file or the like, the         handwriting-originated data is obtained by obtaining color         information associated with ColorId from the color definition         data, and it is set in the PDF file according to the format of         the PDF file. This is also applicable to the fonts, the         character sizes, and the like. Further, all or a part of the         handwritten input storage data (for example, ColorId, FontName,         or the like) is saved in the metadata of the PDF file. The         reader software of the PDF file disregards the metadata, and         accordingly, the metadata does not affect display. In a case         where the PDF file is read by the display apparatus 2, the         handwritten input storage data can be reproduced from the         metadata. In the case of the non-handwriting-originated data,         the color information, font, character size, and the like         included in the handwritten input storage data are set in the         PDF file according to the format of the PDF file.

S104: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 transmits the handwritten input data received from the handwritten input storage unit to a destination or writes it to a file.

S105: When the operation command candidate of Japanese characters reading “file yomikomi” (meaning “read file”) is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits an acquisition request for the file list information to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37.

S106: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 receives the file list information from a storage medium such as a USB memory, a network storage, a web server, or an external apparatus.

S107: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 transmits the file list information to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S108: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the file list display data to the display unit 22. Accordingly, the display unit 22 displays a list of files on a display as illustrated in FIG. 12.

S109: When the user selects a file and the handwritten input unit 21 receives the selection, the handwritten input unit 21 transmits the file selection to the handwritten input display control unit 23.

S110: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits a file reception request for the selected file to the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37.

S111: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 acquires a file from an external apparatus.

S112: The file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 stores the file in the handwritten input storage unit 25.

S113: The handwritten input storage unit 25 analyzes the file received from the file transmission-and-reception control unit 37 and converts the handwriting-originated data into the handwritten input storage data (black-and-white highlighting/color convertible data). In other words, the presence or absence of meta-data is determined, and if meta-data is present, it is determined whether it is possible to convert the meta-data to handwritten input storage data (whether there is ColorId, etc.), and the data is stored as handwritten input storage data. Further, the handwritten input storage unit 25 reads the ColorId with respect to the handwriting-originated data, and converts the data into a black-and-white highlighting display corresponding to the ColorId by referring to the color definition data. The handwritten input storage unit 25 transmits the display data of the handwritten object to the handwritten input display control unit 23. In a case where data is not handwriting originated, the handwritten input storage unit 25 reads the color information, font, and character size according to the file format and stores the data as the handwritten input storage data.

S114: The handwritten input display control unit 23 displays the display data of the handwritten input data on the display unit 22. According to the above, the display unit 22 displays the handwriting-originated data as black-and-white highlighted handwritten data, and displays the data, which is not the handwriting-originated data, in black and white using the conventional brightness conversion.

It should be noted that, when the operation command 512 for signing-in is executed, the handwritten input display control unit 23 acquires the pen ID received by the display apparatus 2 when the operation command 512 is executed. The handwritten input display control unit 23 identifies the user-defined data including the SignatureId acquired in step S61 and acquires the AccountId from the user-defined data. Further, the handwritten input display control unit 23 registers the AccountId in the pen ID control data by associating the AccountID with the pen ID. As a result, the pen 2500 and the user are associated with each other, and the display apparatus 2 can perform processing using the user-defined data.

When a user performs handwriting or reads a file after signing in, the handwritten input display control unit 23 acquires the AccountId associated with the pen ID received by the display apparatus 2 from the pen ID control data at the time of execution of the operation command. The handwritten input display control unit 23 identifies the user-defined data according to the AccountId and sets the color defined data or the like to “%˜%” in the operation command to execute the operation command.

S115: When the operation command related to input and output is selected, the handwritten input display control unit 23 executes the operation command character string (command) of the operation command definition data corresponding to the operation command selected by the user.

S116: When the user enters the angle information manually, the handwritten input display control unit 23 stores the received angle information in the pen ID control data storage unit 36 by associating the angle information with the pen ID received from the pen 2500 when the rotation operation button 511 is touched.

S117: The handwritten input display control unit 23 transmits the start of the handwritten object to the handwritten input storage unit 25 for the next handwritten object. The handwritten input storage unit 25 allocates a handwritten object area. Thereafter, the process of steps S2 to S117 is repeated.

<Display Control of Definition Data of Handwritten Input Area>

Display control based on definition data of a handwritten input area is supplementarily explained with reference to FIG. 54. FIG. 54 is a drawing for explaining a method according to which the display apparatus 2 controls display according to the area in which pen coordinates are included. When the user handwrites with the input unit (e.g., a pen or a fingertip), the handwritten input display control unit 23 determines which of the areas A to C the coordinates of the input unit in contact with the display 220 are located in (S201). Specifically, the handwritten input display control unit 23 determines which definition data of the handwritten input area is applied at the Position and the Depth of the definition data of the handwritten input area of FIG. 23.

In the case of the area A (Yes in S201), Recognition is “Enabled”, and accordingly, the display unit 22 displays handwritten data, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition, and the display unit 22 displays the operation guide 500. When the user selects a character string candidate, the display unit 22 displays the selected character string candidate (S202).

In the case of the area B (Yes in S203), Recognition is “Disabled”, and accordingly, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 receives a stroke as a button operation (S204). Therefore, displaying and the like of handwritten data are not performed.

In the case where the coordinates are in the area C and where Recognition is “ForceForDialog”, the display unit 22 displays handwritten data, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition, and the display unit 22 displays, at a predetermined position, a character string with the highest probability (S206). In other words, the operation guide 500 is not displayed, and the character string can be displayed even if the user does not make any selection.

In the case where the coordinates are in the area C and where Recognition is “ForceForDialogWithoutStroke”, the display unit 22 does not display handwritten data, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition, and the display unit 22 mask displays, at a predetermined position, a character string with the highest probability (S207). In other words, strokes are not displayed so as to hide what the user is handwriting, and the recognition result is also displayed with masking.

<Display Control Based on Definition Data of Mask Display Area>

Referring to FIG. 55, a supplemental explanation is given with respect to display control based on definition data of the mask display area. FIG. 55 is a diagram illustrating a method in which the display apparatus controls the display of data according to a mask display area including pen coordinates. When the user handwrites information with an input means (a pen or a finger), the handwritten input display control unit 23 determines whether the coordinates where the input means is in contact with the display 220, are in the area of name, the area of furigana, the area of gender, or the area of age (step S301).

In the case of the area of name (YES in step S301), Recognition=‘Enable’ is set in this area, and, therefore, the display unit 22 displays handwritten data, the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition, and the display unit 22 displays the operation guide 500. When the user selects a character string candidate, the selected character string candidate is displayed by the display unit 22 (step S302). Further, MaskedDisplay=‘True’ is set in this area, and, therefore, when the mask display timer (1) 408 times out, the character string is mask displayed.

In the case of the area of the furigana (YES in S303), Recognition=‘Force’ is set in this area, and, therefore, the display unit 22 displays handwritten data, and the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition to forcibly specify hiragana. The display unit 22 displays hiragana in the area of furigana (step S304). Further, MaskedDisplay=‘True’ is set in this area, and, therefore, when the mask display timeout (1) 408 times out, the character string is mask displayed.

In the case of the area of gender (YES in S305), Recognition=‘Force’ is set in this area, and, therefore, the display unit 22 displays handwritten data, and the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition to forcibly specify either male or female. The display unit 22 displays male or female in the area of gender (step S306). Mask display is not performed, because there is no definition of MaskedDisplay in the area of gender.

In the case of the area of age (YES in S307), Recognition=‘Force’ is set in this area, and, therefore, the display unit 22 displays the handwritten data, and the handwriting recognition control unit 26 performs character recognition to forcibly specify a value. The display unit 22 displays a value in the area of age (step S308). Mask display is not performed, because there is no definition of MaskedDisplay in the area of age.

<Mask Display and Mask Cancellation in the Mask Display Area>

FIG. 56 is an example of a flowchart illustrating a flow of mask display and mask cancellation in a mask display area based on the mask display timer (1) and the mask display timer (2). The process of FIG. 56 starts in a state where a handwritten object is displayed in the mask display area.

The handwritten input display control unit 23 determines whether a character string is displayed in the mask display area (Recognition=Force) (step S401).

When a character string is displayed in the mask display area (YES in S401), the mask display timer control unit 40 starts the mask display timer (1) in order to measure the time until the mask display is to be performed (step S402).

The mask display timer control unit 40 monitors the mask display timer (1) and determines whether timeout has occurred (step S403).

Until timeout occurs (NO in S403), the handwritten input display control unit 23 monitors whether a user touches the mask display area (step S404).

When the user touches the mask display area (YES in S404), the handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the mask display timer control unit 40 to restart the mask display timer (1).

When the mask display timer (1) times out (YES in S403), the handwritten input display control unit 23 performs mask display with respect to the character string in the mask display area (S405).

After the mask display, the handwritten input display control unit 23 determines whether there is a gesture (tapping) operation in the mask display area (step S406).

When a gesture operation is performed (YES in S406), the handwritten input display control unit 23 cancels the mask and displays the character string (step S407).

In order to measure the time until mask display is to be performed again, the mask display timer control unit 40 starts the mask display timer (2) (step S408).

The mask display timer control unit 40 monitors the mask display timer (2) and determines whether timeout has occurred (step S409).

Until timeout occurs (NO in S409), the handwritten input display control unit 23 monitors whether the user touches the mask display area (step S410).

When the user touches the mask display area (YES in S410), the handwritten input display control unit 23 requests the mask display timer control unit 40 to restart the mask display timer (2).

When the mask display timer (2) times out (YES in S409), the handwritten input display control unit 23 performs mask display with respect to the character string again in the mask display area (step S411).

As described above, the display apparatus 2 mask displays the character string in the mask display area according to timer control, and redisplays the character string according to a user's gesture.

<Major Effects>

As described above, the display apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment displays the entire confidential information for a short time immediately after the confidential information is displayed, so that information can be utilized for operations. Further, the confidential information is protected from a third party because the confidential information is mask displayed after a certain period of time.

The user can cancel the mask display with a gesture, but by making the gesture complicated, a third party cannot easily cancel the mask display. Therefore, the display apparatus 2 can be conveniently used by the user, while improving confidentiality. By making the gesture simple, even a user who is not used to using the display apparatus 2 can easily cancel the mask of the confidential information.

A timer from when the confidential information is displayed to when mask display is performed, or a timer from when the confidential information is redisplayed according to a gesture while mask display is performed, can be set by a user in accordance with the mode of use of the display apparatus 2. For example, the timer can be shorter in places where there are many third-party visitors, and the timer can be longer in other places.

Embodiment 2

In the first embodiment, the display apparatus 2 is described as having a large touch panel, but the display apparatus is not limited to those having a touch panel. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a projector-type display apparatus is hereinafter explained.

<<Another Configuration Example 1 of Display Apparatus>>

FIG. 57 is a drawing illustrating another configuration example of a display apparatus. In FIG. 57, a projector 411 is located above a typical white board 413. The projector 411 corresponds to a display apparatus. The typical white board 413 is not a flat panel display integrated with a touch panel, but rather a white board that a user writes directly with a marker. It should be noted that the white board may be a blackboard, and only a flat surface large enough to project images.

The projector 411 has an optical system with an ultra-short focal point so that images of less distortion can be projected from about 10 cm onto the white board 413. The images may be transmitted from a wirelessly or wiredly connected PC 400-1 or may be stored by the projector 411.

The user handwrites on a white board 413 using a dedicated electronic pen 2700. The electronic pen 2700 has a light emitting unit at a tip portion, for example, where the light emitting unit is turned on when the user touches against the white board 413 for handwriting. The light wavelength is near-infrared or infrared, so it is invisible to the user. The projector 411 includes a camera that captures the light emitting unit and analyzes the captured image to determine the direction of the electronic pen 2700. Further, the electronic pen 2700 emits a sound wave together with a light emission, and the projector 411 calculates a distance according to the time of arrival of the sound wave. The projector 411 can determine the position of the electronic pen 2700 from the direction and the distance. A stroke is drawn (projected) at the position of the electronic pen 2700.

The projector 411 projects a menu 430, so when a user touches a button with the electronic pen 2700, the projector 411 identifies the touched button from the position of the electronic pen 2700 and the ON signal of a switch. For example, when a save button 431 is touched, the stroke handwritten by the user (a set of coordinates) is stored by the projector 411. The projector 411 stores handwritten information in a predetermined server 412 or a USB memory 2600 or the like. The handwritten information is stored for each page. The coordinates are saved instead of image data, allowing the user to perform re-editing. It is not necessary that the menu 430 is displayed because operation commands can be invoked by handwriting in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

<<Another Configuration Example 2 of Display Apparatus>>

FIG. 58 is a drawing illustrating yet another configuration example of a display apparatus 2. In an example of FIG. 58, the display apparatus 2 includes a terminal apparatus 600, an image projection apparatus 700A, and a pen operation detection apparatus 810.

The terminal apparatus 600 is connected with wire to the image projection apparatus 700A and the pen operation detection apparatus 810. The image projection apparatus 700A causes the image data input by the terminal apparatus 600 to be projected onto a screen 800.

The pen operation detection apparatus 810 is in communication with an electronic pen 820 and detects operations of the electronic pen 820 in the vicinity of the screen 800. Specifically, the electronic pen 820 detects coordinate information indicating a point indicated by the electronic pen 820 on the screen 800, and transmits the detected coordinate information to the terminal apparatus 600.

The terminal apparatus 600 generates the image data of the stroke image input by the electronic pen 820 based on the coordinate information received from the pen operation detection apparatus 810 and causes the image projection apparatus 700A to draw the stroke image on the screen 800.

Further, the terminal apparatus 600 generates superimposed image data representing a superimposed image composed of a background image projected by the image projection apparatus 700A and the stroke image input by the electronic pen 820.

<<Another Configuration Example 3 of Display Apparatus>>

FIG. 59 is a drawing illustrating a configuration example of a display apparatus. In an example of FIG. 59, the display apparatus 2 includes a terminal apparatus 600, a display 800A, and a pen operation detection apparatus 810.

The pen operation detection apparatus 810 is disposed near the display 800A and detects coordinate information indicating a point indicated by the electronic pen 820A on the display 800A and transmits the coordinate information to the terminal apparatus 600. It should be noted that, in an example of FIG. 59, the electronic pen 820A may be charged by the terminal apparatus 600 via a USB connector.

The terminal apparatus 600 generates image data of a stroke image input by the electronic pen 820A based on the coordinate information received from the pen operation detection apparatus 810 and displays the image data on the display 800A.

<<Another Configuration Example 4 of Display Apparatus>>

FIG. 60 is a drawing illustrating a configuration example of a display apparatus. In an example of FIG. 60, the display apparatus 2 includes a terminal apparatus 600 and an image projection apparatus 700A.

The terminal apparatus 600 performs wireless communication (such as Bluetooth) with the electronic pen 820B and receives coordinate information of a point indicated by the electronic pen 820B on the screen 800. Further, the terminal apparatus 600 generates image data of a stroke image input by the electronic pen 820B based on the received coordinate information and causes the image projection apparatus 700A to project the stroke image.

Further, the terminal apparatus 600 generates superimposed image data representing a superimposed image composed of a background image projected by the image projection apparatus 700A and the stroke image input by the electronic pen 820.

As described above, each of the above-described embodiments can be applied in various system configurations.

Other Application Examples

As described above, while preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to examples, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

For example, display methods of the embodiments are suitably applicable to an information processing apparatus having a touch panel. Apparatuses having the same function as the display apparatuses are also referred to as electronic blackboards, electronic whiteboards, electronic information boards, and interactive boards. The information processing apparatus having a touch panel mounted therein may be, for example, an output apparatus such as a PJ (Projector), a digital signage, an HUD (Head Up Display) apparatus, an industrial machine, an imaging apparatus, a sound collector, a medical apparatus, a network home appliance, a personal computer, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a game machine, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a digital camera, a wearable PC, or a desktop PC.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a part of the processing performed by the display apparatus 2 may be performed by a server. For example, the display apparatus transmits stroke information to the server and acquires and displays information to be displayed with the operation guide 500.

Further, coordinates of the pen are detected by the display apparatus 2 by a method of detecting the coordinates of the pen tip by the touch panel in an embodiment of the present disclosure, but the coordinates of the pen tip may be detected by ultrasonic waves. Further, the pen emits ultrasonic waves together with the light emission, and the display apparatus 2 calculates the distance according to the time of arrival of the ultrasonic waves. The display apparatus 2 can determine the position of the pen according to the direction and the distance. The projector draws (projects) the pen's trajectory as a stroke.

Further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, when there is a selected object, operation command candidates related to editing, modification, and Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as a page name”) are displayed, and when there is no selected object, operation command candidates related to input and output are displayed. However, the display apparatus 2 may simultaneously display the operation command candidates related to editing, modification, and Japanese characters reading “page mei ni settei” (meaning “set as a page name”), and the operation command candidates related to input and output.

Further, the display apparatus 2 may not have the user's handwritten signature data. It may be retained by an information processing apparatus on the cloud or within the company.

Also, in the configuration example such as FIGS. 6A and 6B, the functions of the display apparatus 2 are roughly divided into the processing units in order to facilitate the understanding of processing performed by the display apparatus 2. The present disclosure is not limited by the way the functions are divided into the processing units or the names given to the processing units. The functions of the display apparatus 2 can be divided into a larger number of processing units depending on the processing content. Alternatively, the functions of the display apparatus 2 can be divided in such a manner that a single processing unit performs multiple types of processing.

Further, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, a threshold value may be indicated as an example as a comparison target. However, a threshold value is not limited to the indicated threshold value. Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, with respect to all threshold values, “less than a threshold value” and “equal to or less than a threshold value” have an equivalent meaning, and “greater than a threshold value” and “equal to or greater than a threshold value” have an equivalent meaning. For example, in a case where a threshold value is 11, “less than the threshold value” has a meaning equivalent to “equal to or less than a threshold value” in a case where the threshold value is 10. In addition, in a case where a threshold value is 10, “greater than the threshold value” has a meaning equivalent to “equal to or greater than a threshold” in a case where the threshold value is 11.

Further, the functions of the embodiments described above may also be implemented by one or more processing circuits. Here, it is assumed that “processing circuitry” includes processors programmed to perform each function by software, such as processors implemented in electronic circuits, devices designed to perform each function as described above, such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), DSPs (digital signal processors), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), and conventional circuit modules.

The handwritten input display control unit 23 is an example of a display control means, and the handwriting recognition control unit 26 is an example of a converting means.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the display apparatus capable of concealing information displayed by handwritten input, can be provided.

The display apparatus, the display method, and the recording medium are not limited to the specific embodiments described in the detailed description, and variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus for displaying handwritten data that is input with an inputter, the display apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and a memory storing computer-executable instructions that cause the processing circuitry to: convert the handwritten data into a character string; and conceal the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that a first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed.
 2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: conceal the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that the first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed, when coordinates at which the handwritten data is input by the inputter, are included in an area that is predetermined.
 3. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: restart the first time in response to determining that the handwritten data is input to the area by the inputter, after the character string generated by converting the handwritten data is displayed and before the first time elapses.
 4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a setting as to whether the handwritten data is to be converted into the character string, is associated with an area, and wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: convert the handwritten data into the character string, in response to determining that coordinates at which the handwritten data is input by the inputter, are included in the area associated with the setting to convert the handwritten data into the character string.
 5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a setting as to whether to display a selectable candidate including one or more of the character strings generated by converting the handwritten data and to accept a selection, is associated with an area, and wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: display the selectable candidate and accept the selection of one character string among the one or more of the character strings included in the selectable candidate, in response to determining that coordinates at which the handwritten data is input by the inputter, are included in the area associated with the setting to display the selectable candidate and to accept the selection.
 6. The display apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a setting is associated with each of the areas, as to whether the handwritten data is to be converted into the character string, whether to display a selectable candidate including one or more of the character strings generated by converting the handwritten data and to accept a selection, and whether to display the handwritten data input by the inputter.
 7. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a setting indicating a type of a dictionary used for converting the handwritten data into the character string, is associated with an area, and wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: convert the handwritten data into the character string by using the dictionary associated with the area including coordinates at which the handwritten data is input by the inputter.
 8. The display apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the setting indicating the dictionary for converting the handwritten data into a value or hiragana is associated with the area, a setting not to display a selectable candidate including one or more of the character strings generated by converting the handwritten data and not to accept a selection, is associated with the corresponding area.
 9. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: redisplay the character string that has been concealed, in response to determining that predetermined handwritten data is input by the inputter in the area where the character string has been concealed.
 10. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is further caused to: conceal the character string that has been redisplayed, in response to determining that a second time has elapsed after the character string is redisplayed.
 11. The display apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first time and the second time are different.
 12. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined handwritten data is a comma.
 13. The display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined handwritten data can be changed by a user.
 14. A display method performed by a display apparatus for displaying handwritten data that is input with an inputter, the display method comprising: converting the handwritten data into a character string; and concealing the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that a first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed.
 15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program that causes a computer to execute a process performed in a display apparatus for displaying handwritten data that is input with an inputter, the process comprising: converting the handwritten data into a character string; and concealing the character string generated by converting the handwritten data, in response to determining that a first time has elapsed after the character string is displayed. 